Tom Hooper

Samantha Barks Cast as Eponine in LES MISERABLES; Piper Perabo Joins RED MACHINE

by Dave Trumbore    Posted: January 31st, 2012 at 6:41 pm

When last we reported on the female lead casting of director Tom Hooper’s Les Miserables, we told you that Amanda Seyfried (Mamma Mia!) had been offered the role of Cosette and Taylor Swift (Valentine’s Day) had been asked to play Eponine.  While Seyfried has accepted, Deadline is reporting that stage performer Samantha Barks has bested Swift for the role of Eponine. She previously performed the role in 2010’s London production of Les Miserables as well as the 25^th anniversary concert last year. Barks will join Russell Crowe, Hugh Jackman, Anne Hathaway, Eddie Redmayne, Aaron Tveit and Seyfried for the December 7^th release. Click here to see all of our previous coverage on Les Miserables. Hit the jump for more casting news concerning Piper Perabo (Coyote Ugly) joining the David Hackl (Saw II) thriller, Red Machine.

Amanda Seyfried and Taylor Swift Offered Roles of Cosette and Eponine in LES MISERABLES [Updated]

by Dave Trumbore    Posted: January 3rd, 2012 at 7:46 pm

With recent word that director Tom Hooper (The King’s Speech) would be recording live vocals from his actors rather than pre-recording them, it made sense to pad his line-up with actors who possessed some singing talent. Or singers who possessed some acting talent. Well, in this case, he’s done both, as Amanda Seyfried (In Time) and Taylor Swift (Valentine’s Day) have been offered roles in the cinematic musical, Les Miserables. Seyfried has been offered the role of Cosette, a part in which her operatic background should come in handy. Country singer Swift has been offered the role of Eponine, having beaten out such actresses as Lea Michele (Glee), Scarlett Johansson (We Bought a Zoo) and Evan Rachel Wood (The Ides of March). Hit the jump for more on Les Miserables. [Update: Deadline reports Seyfried has signed on to play Cosette]

Director Tom Hooper Says “No” to 3D for LES MISERABLES

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: December 5th, 2011 at 6:18 pm

For those of you hoping for a 3D rendition of “On My Own” from director Tom Hooper’s (The King’s Speech) movie musical Les Miserables, prepare to be disappointed. Back in September, star Hugh Jackman told Steve that 3D was being discussed as a possibility for the adaptation. He revealed that Hooper would probably be shooting some tests to see if the format was a good fit for the film. Now comes word that the director has decided against Les Mis 3D. Hit the jump to find out why.

Hugh Jackman Talks Tom Hooper’s LES MISERABLES; Filming Begins in March, Confirms 3D is Being Discussed

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: September 30th, 2011 at 2:57 am

Hugh Jackman is an expert at making men the world over look bad.  Not only is he incredibly nice, good-looking, talented, charming, and funny, but he can also sing and dance like nobody’s business.  What an asshole.  Steve recently sat down with the gracious actor to talk about his upcoming sci-fi flick Real Steel, but during the conversation Jackman spoke a bit about his upcoming role in The King’s Speech director Tom Hooper’s movie musical Les Miserables.   Jackman is taking on the starring role of Jean Valjean in the pic opposite Russell Crowe as the nefarious Javert.  The actor confirmed that filming begins next March and they’re getting ready to do some tests to determine whether Hooper will shoot the film in 3D or not.  Hit the jump to see what he had to say.

Universal Sets LES MISERABLES Starring Hugh Jackman and Russell Crowe for December 7, 2012 Release Date [Updated]

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: September 8th, 2011 at 4:16 pm

Prepare to get your Broadway on. Universal has set director Tom Hooper’s (The King’s Speech) adaptation of Les Miserables for a December 7, 2012 release date. Not only that, but Deadline’s report confirms that Russell Crowe will be starring as the nefarious Javert opposite Hugh Jackman’s Jean Valjean. This is quite an impressive roundup for the musical flick, and if any of the other casting rumors end up to be true it only gets better. William Nicholson (Elizabeth: The Golden Age) wrote the script based on Victor Hugo’s novel and the stage musical.

This news comes on the heels of word that production on James Mangold’s The Wolverine has been pushed back to next year. Mark Bomback is currently rewriting Christopher McQuarrie’s screenplay. Although I wasn’t the biggest fan of The King’s Speech, count me as one of those excited for this adaptation. Crowe’s no stranger to the music scene, as he takes his band “Russell Crowe and the Ordinary Fear of God” very seriously.

[Update: THR also reports that Helena Bonham Carter is now officially in talks to star in the film as Thenardier's greedy wife]

Paul Bettany Up for Role of Javert Opposite Hugh Jackman in LES MISERABLES; Chelsea Handler Joins Josh Schwartz’s FUN SIZE

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: June 16th, 2011 at 8:22 am

We’ve got a couple of casting stories for you this morning. Last night, we reported that Hugh Jackman is currently in negotiations to star in director Tom Hooper’s (The King’s Speech) big-budget musical adaptation of Les Miserables. Jackman is eyeing the role of protagonist Jean Valjean, and now Deadline reports that Paul Bettany is a candidate to play the villainous police inspector Javert. Apparently he’s read for the role and sang a few songs from the stage musical. I like the idea of Bettany as Javert. He’s a fine dramatic actor, and he and Jackman make an interesting pair.

Additionally, THR reports that Chelsea Handler is in talks to join The O.C. creator Josh Schwartz’s feature directorial debut Fun Size. The comedy centers on a sarcastic teen who takes her little brother-trick-or-treating on Halloween only to lose him along the way. She must spend the rest of the night trying to track him down, with the help of her friends. Handler will play the mother of the teen girl. The cast now includes Victoria Justice (Victorious), Jane Levy, Thomas Mann (It’s Kind of a Funny Story) and Johnny Knoxville.

Hugh Jackman in Talks to Star in Tom Hooper’s LES MISERABLES

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: June 15th, 2011 at 4:20 pm

To say Hugh Jackman is versatile is a bit of an understatement. The guy can go from dark and brooding in X-Men to unbelievably charming and lively as host of the Oscars and the Tonys, as well as starring in Broadway’s The Boy from Oz. Given that he’s not too shabby at the whole song and dance thing, it makes perfect sense that he’s currently in talks to star in The King’s Speech director Tom Hooper’s adaptation of Les Miserables. Variety reports that Jackman is currently in negotiations to take a starring role in the Universal flick, and THR reports that he’s eyeing the role of protagonist Jean Valjean. Now, onto the casting of villainous police inspector Javert.

Les Miserables will be Hooper’s first project since winning the Best Director Oscar for last year’s The King’s Speech. William Nicholson (Elizabeth: The Golden Age) wrote the screenplay based on the stage musical, which itself was based on the classic Victor Hugo novel. Jackman’s schedule opened up when Darren Aronofsky dropped out of The Wolverine at the last minute, leaving Fox scrambling to find a new director.

THE KING’S SPEECH Blu-ray review

by Scott Wampler    Posted: May 19th, 2011 at 9:58 am

Tom Hooper’s The King’s Speech won the Academy Award for Best Picture this year, but that’s not to say that it was the most popular film at the box office in 2010.  In fact, of the films nominated in that category at this year’s Oscar’s, it’d probably be fair to say that The King’s Speech wasn’t amongst the top three or four most-seen films.  The problem is that The King’s Speech looks like it might be a chore to sit through:  you’ve got stuffy British people, an “underdog beats the odds” plotline that many of us have already seen, and a lead actor that isn’t known for being the most electric on-screen presence in Hollywood.  All of this may have kept people from checking the film out when it hit theaters.  But now that it’s won the “Best Picture” Oscar and landed on store shelves, should you give The King’s Speech a chance?  Find out after the jump, folks…

THE KING’S SPEECH Director Tom Hooper Close to Choosing LES MISERABLES as Next Film

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: March 24th, 2011 at 6:49 pm

Tom Hooper, who just won the Academy Award for Best Director for The King’s Speech, is closing in on his next film. As one would imagine, the director has been carefully weighing the numerous pictures he’s been offered (including Iron Man 3) as his follow up to the Best Picture winner. Last month, it was reported that Hooper was considering tackling a big-budget musical adaptation of Les Miserables. Well, it looks like the Victor Hugo classic may in fact be his next film.

Deadline reports that Hooper is very close to choosing Les Mis as his next directorial effort. The film will be an adaptation of the stage musical, rather than a straight adaptation of Hugo’s novel. William Nicholson (Elizabeth: The Golden Age) wrote the screenplay and Cameron Mackintosh, who produced the stage musical, will be producing the film as well. Apparently Hooper also flirted with an adaptation of Deborah Moggach’s Tulip Fever and a re-telling of Macbeth, but Les Miserables won out in the end. Nothing has been signed yet, but the report states that Hooper is currently in active negotiations for the flick.

THE KING’S SPEECH Wins Best Picture; Full List of Oscar Winners

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: February 27th, 2011 at 8:57 pm

In what easily had to be one of the most painful, unfunny Oscar ceremonies in recent memory, The King’s Speech finally reached the end of its inevitable march to Best Picture.  It was the first Best Picture winner to win less than five Oscars (it won four, including Best Actor, Best Director, and Best Original Screenplay). [Correction: Crash, which won Best Picture in 2006, only won 3 Oscars]  Does that make it more or less unworthy of the Best Picture crown?  I don’t know.  I don’t care.  I’m drained after live-blogging the awful show and 50 minutes of terrible pre-show.

Hit the jump for the full list of winners.

THE KING’S SPEECH Director Tom Hooper May Next Tackle LES MISERABLES; Was Offered IRON MAN 3

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: February 23rd, 2011 at 6:58 pm

Director Tom Hooper is currently in the last leg of the award season circuit for his Oscar juggernaut The King’s Speech. The film is poised to be a big winner come Sunday night, and there’s also a very good chance Hooper will walk away with the Best Director award (he won the DGA last month). Well now he’s starting to look ahead to his next project, and he might be taking on yet another decidedly European tale: a new version of the classic novel/Broadway musical Les Miserables.

24 Frames reports that the director is weighing an offer to helm a big-budget musical version of the story. Working Title, which also produced Atonement, is producing the film. More interesting, however, is a mention in the report that Hooper was offered the directing gig for Marvel’s Iron Man 3 before turning it down (Writer/director Shane Black eventually landed the job). A bold choice, I’d say, given that the director is decidedly fresh, with only a few low-key dramas under his belt. What do you think? Should Hooper follow up his Oscar-bait turn with Les Mis? Would he have been right for IM3?

Is Harvey Weinstein Planning to Bleep THE KING’S SPEECH?

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: January 31st, 2011 at 1:04 pm

Producer Harvey Weinstein lost his battle with the MPAA to get The King’s Speech‘s rating lowered from an “R” to a “PG-13″.  The film received an “R” rating because of one scene where Edward VI (Colin Firth) says “Fuck” a lot and as we all know, if anyone under the age of 17 hears the word “fuck” more than once in a movie, they will turn to a life of prostitution.  Last week, we reported that Weinstein was going to respond to the MPAA’s stupid decision in kind by re-cutting the movie.  Now it looks like he’s might be planning to out-moron the MPAA by “bleeping” the film.  Director Tom Hooper tells EW, “I wouldn’t support cutting the film in any way. I think we looked at whether it’s possible to bleep out the f—s and stuff, but I’m not going to actually cut that part.” And star Helena Bonham Carter says, “I think they said they were going to put the bleeps.”

Hit the jump for why I think this may be one of Weinstein’s clever marketing ploys.

Tom Hooper Wins at the Directors Guild Awards for THE KING’S SPEECH

by Brendan Bettinger    Posted: January 30th, 2011 at 9:20 am

Uh-oh, The Social Network.  Heading into January, it seemed like the Academy Awards were yours to lose.  But things have been rocky since your (admittedly meaningless) Golden Globes domination.  The Producer’s Guild chose The King’s Speech, shortly before that movie racked up 12 Oscar nominations to your 8.  Now the Director’s Guild has followed suit and selected The King’s Speech‘s Tom Hooper in the Feature Film category for their 63rd annual awards.  Since 1948, the Academy and the DGA have only disagreed on Best Director six times.  I believe Oscar night now unofficially belongs to you, The King’s Speech.

Hit the jump for the full list of winners, including Martin Scorsese for directing the pilot of Boardwalk Empire.

THE KING’S SPEECH Could Be Recut to Get a PG-13 Rating

by Jason Barr    Posted: January 26th, 2011 at 9:49 am

Say what you will about producer Harvey Weinstein, but don’t call him complacent.  Less than 48 hours removed from its 12 Oscar nods, The Weinstein Co. is said to be considering recutting The King’s Speech so as to open the film to a “broader audience.”  As it stands, the film has an R rating for language and the proposed re-editing of the film would aim to cut-down on said language to make it eligible for a lower rating.

For more on The King’s Speech new-look marketing strategy, hit the jump.

63rd Annual Directors Guild of America Award Nominees Announced

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: January 10th, 2011 at 9:25 am

The Directors Guild of America has announced its nominees for 2011.  The nominees are Darren Aronofsky for Black Swan, David Fincher for The Social Network, Tom Hooper for The King’s Speech, Christopher Nolan for Inception, and David O. Russell for The Fighter.  It is highly likely that at least four of these five directors will receive Oscar nominations and it’s also likely that one of these five films is going to win Best Picture.  The last time the Directors Guild winner didn’t match up with Best Picture was in 2005 when the DGA gave Ang Lee Best Director for Brokeback Mountain but the Oscar for Best Picture went to Crash.

The DGA will announce the winner on Saturday, January 29th.  Previous winners include

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