Film News: Anne Hathaway Joins Cast of ‘Les Miserables’

CHICAGO – Last February at the Academy Awards, Tom Hooper won Best Director for “The King’s Speech,” Anne Hathaway hosted the Oscar ceremony, and she sang a song during the show to Hugh Jackman to the tune of ‘On My Own’ from the musical “Les Miserables.” Little did we know this was going to be a preview of a highly anticipated film for 2012.

Announced earlier today, Anne Hathaway has officially signed on to take part of the film adaptation of “Les Miserables.” Hathaway will join the Universal Pictures adaptation in the role of Fantine, the character that sings ‘I Dreamed a Dream.’ Perhaps her performance at the Oscars was enough for her to win the role and something good actually came from that abysmal night of hosting between Hathaway and James Franco.

Hathaway joins a cast that includes, you guessed it, Hugh Jackman, as well as Academy Award winner Russell Crowe. Jackman will play the protagonist, Jean Valjean, while Crowe will be the antagonist, Inspector Javert. The film will be directed by Tom Hooper.

“Les Miserables” tells the story of Jean Valjean, an ex-convict trying to make good during the time of uprising in France. Valjean gets in trouble with the law again by breaking parole and is on the run from Inspector Javert, a determined law man that will stop at nothing to find Valjean.

The musical was released in the United States in 1987 and won the Tony Award for Best Musical, Best Book of a Musical, and Best Original Score. The film adaptation is set to release right in the heat of next year’s Oscar season, when it hits theaters December 7, 2012.

[9]	By TIM MARTENS [10] Staff Writer HollywoodChicago.com tim@hollywoodchicago.com [9]