Will Paul Bettany Join Tom Hooper’s “Les Miserables”?
To spend time with his family, Paul Bettany turned down the Oscar winning role of King George in Tom Hooper’s The King’s Speech. Cue discussions about film alternate universes, Bettany looks more like Bertie than Colin Firth, slight sadness all around. Deadline reports that Bettany has read for the role of Inspector Javert in Hooper’s film adaptation of the musical Les Miserables.
The adaptation is produced by Cameron Mackintosh and Working Title’s Time Bevan and Eric Fellner with Bill Nicholson’s script. Filming begins at the end of the year in Europe. For those who may not have read the 1000-page Victor Hugo novel, Inspector Javert is the villain to protagonist Jean Valjean, the latter imprisoned for life for stealing a loaf of bread. These men eventually find themselves as enemies during 19th Century Paris.
I do have a few worries about this potential casting rumor. He has apparently sang for Mackintosh but he doesn’t look like a bass-baritone to me. I also wonder if he would be an effectively physical presence against Valjean. But then again, Geoffrey Rush didn’t have to be more intimidating than Liam Neeson in a non-musical film adaptation by Billie August in the late 90′s. My anxieties are here mostly because these are the shoes that Bettany have to fill. Lastly, as long as Lea Salonga plays Fantine and Tom Hooper makes another The Damned United after this movie, I’ll be fine. Both of which will never happen.
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Hope he does, he deserves great, unique roles like this. Such a great actor that’s not living up to his potential. There’s so many shitty roles you can do before you stop getting the scripts Paul!
Les Miserables is my favorite novel of all-time. I just don’t think it needs to be done in a musical form (for the 55th time).
It’ll be the first in the big screen. By a guy who won his Oscar too early. It’ll be real!
*jazzhands
I’ve been wanting to see the play, perhaps I’ll check that out when it makes its round in Mpls.
I’m actually looking forward to this. with all the nonsense movies Paul’s been in these days, i forgot he can actually act. this should be a good reminder.
Bettany needs a return to form and Hooper’s style offers such freedom for actors to flesh out some truly interesting and developed characters. Little Children is amazing, as is In the Bedroom, and Bettany’s work in Master and Commander and A Beautiful Mind was excellent. Too bad the last nine years or so have not been good for him.
Little Children and In the Bedroom are Todd Field, who would have been the next Stanley Kubrick if Blood Meridien drama didn’t get in the way.
Speaking of, I changed the channel during In the Bedroom because I was tired and I did the same with Master and Commander because I hate watching amputations. But Bettany was great in the parts I’ve seen.
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