Back in August we reported the rumor that Anne Hathaway was being considered to play Fantine in director Tom Hooper's upcoming version of Les Miserables. We were a bit skeptical at the time, but it turns out the rumor was right: today Deadline is confirming that Hathaway has signed on for the big-screen musical.
She's joining a top-notch cast in the adaptation of the classic novel by Victor Hugo. Hugh Jackman and Russell Crowe were already aboard the project, playing Jean Valjean and Inspector Javert, respectively. Director Tom Hooper made a big splash last year as the helmer of the Academy Award-winning The King's Speech.
Les Miserables has been adapted for the screen a half-dozen times, notably back in 1998 when Liam Neeson was in the role of Valjean. That version eschewed the singing side of things, so this new version should excite fans of the popular musical. Nor should anybody be worried about the singing chops of the three stars. Jackman is a stage regular. Crowe's musical proclivities are well known, including his amusingly named band, 30 Odd Foot of Grunts. And Hathaway sang a parody version of the Les Miserables song "On My Own" on the last Academy Awards, a version that skewered...guess who...her new Les Mis co-star Hugh Jackman.
This new Les Miserables is slated to hit theaters on December 7th, 2012, just in time for Oscar season. The script was written by William Nicholson (Elizabeth: The Golden Age). Now, here's Anne belting one out (and making fun of Hugh Jackman).
