Tom Hooper News

While announced in multiple spots online last month, the ink is now dry on his contract and Broadway star Aaron Tveit is now officially Enjolras in the upcoming film of LES MISERABLES.

MARCO POLO, the legendary pioneer and explorer from the 13th century, will have his tale told in an epic new scripted original series, as announced jointly by Starz, LLC, President and CEO Chris Albrecht, The Weinstein Company's Co-Chairman, Harvey Weinstein, and Electus Chairman and Founder, Ben Silverman.

Tony winner Eddie Redmayne is gearing up to star in the much-anticipated film version of LES MISERABES, and he's now meeting his upcoming costars. In the video below, Redmayne chats about meeting Amanda Seyfried, Helena Bonham Carter, and more!

With all the hooplah surrounding the casting of Taylor Swift, who has yet to be officially announced, in the upcoming big screen adaptation of Les Miserables, it seemed like the perfect time to show off a Youtube treasure of the original Tony-winning Eponine, Frances Ruffelle. In the video below, Rufelle sings the strret urchin's anthem, 'On My Own.' Click below to check it out!

The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. 'Les Miserables,' 'Smash,' Idina Menzel, 'Come Fly Away,' 'Jersey Shore,' 'Legally Blonde,' Rogers Park theater history and more....

The ultra-starry cast for the upcoming feature film version of the international smash musical sensation LES MISERABLES finally got one step closer to finding its Eponine and Cossette this week, as offers have gone out to pop music superstar Taylor Swift and breakout screen starlet Amanda Seyfried for the hotly anticipated Tom Hooper adaptation of the tuner which will also star Hugh Jackman and Russell Crowe as Jean Valjean and Javert, respectively, Anne Hathaway as Fantine and Tony-winner Eddie Redmayne as Marius. While Seyfried is perhaps best known to Broadway babies for her lovable and memorable turn in the role of Meryl Streep's daughter in the ABBA jukebox movie musical MAMMA MIA!, Swift has displayed her ample affection for all things theatrical with her recent Broadway-themed SPEAK NOW tour as well as her memorable appearance on SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE and on concert stages around the world. Both ladies certainly have the musical chops to take on these much-beloved Broadway roles - even if the soundtrack is to actually be recorded live on set, as the director himself has confirmed he intends to do - and, while neither Swift nor Seyfried has been officially confirmed by the producers as of this writing, both appear to more than merely satisfy the complex casting necessities for the standout roles and the overall younger-sided casting of the feature film adaptation so far. Yet, no matter how fantastic they may turn out to be in the finished final film, it sure will be difficult to manage to make much of an impression with a cast as impossibly accomplished as the one assembled for this film up until now - Jackman, Crowe, Hathaway, Redmayne, Aaron Tveit, Helena Bonham Carter and Sacha Baron Cohen included! Plus, who knows what new musical numbers Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Shonberg are cooking up - and what characters shall sing them?! Whatever comes to pass, Christmas 2012 will be all about LES MISERABLES: THE MOVIE MUSICAL for Broadway babies everywhere - many of whom who have been waiting for this moment (and this movie) to arrive for over 20 years! Let's hope it was worth the wait! Until then, we have this look and listen to what made these ladies oh-so right for the roles. After all, less than 360 days remain until the big 24601!

As BroadwayWorld reported Tuesday evening, Taylor Swift (Eponine) and Amanda Seyfried (Cosette) are the latest additions to the all-star cast of the upcoming Les Miserables movie musical adaptation, joining the previously set Hugh Jackman (ean Valjean), Russell Crowe (Javert), Sacha Baron Cohen (Thernardier), Eddie Redmayne (Marius), Aaron Tveit (Enjolras), Anne Hathaway (Fantine) and Helena Bonham Carter (Madame Thenardier). Jackman recently spoke to New York Magazine about his upcoming stint in the famous role, revealing how getting this opportunity feels like the apex of his professional career.

With yesterday's announcement of the completion of casting for the upcoming big screen adaptation of Les Miserables, theatre lovers are left wondering if country songstress Taylor Swift has got the acting and singing chops to take on beloved, street urchin Eponine. BroadwayWorld has been equally curious, so we bring you the closest thing we found so far to a preview of what to expect from Swift in a Broadway role. In the video below, she sings West Side Story's 'Tonight' as a part of a promo for the 2009 Video Music Awards. Click below to check it out!

Hugh Jackman will return to Broadway during the 2013/2014 season starring as America's greatest showman in HOUDINI, an original musical. Making his Broadway debut as librettist, Academy Award and six-time Emmy Award winner Aaron Sorkin will collaborate with three-time Academy Award and four-time Grammy Award winner Stephen Schwartz. Directed by three-time Tony Award winner Jack O'Brien, HOUDINI is presented by film and theatre producer Scott Sanders and David Rockwell. Mr. Rockwell will also design the sets for HOUDINI. Additional HOUDINI casting, creative team and design team to be announced at a later date.

El reparto para la adaptación de la película Les Misérables está a punto de cerrarse, con Hugh Jackman en el papel de Jean Valjean y Russell Crowe como Javert. En las últimas semanas se ha anunciado que Sacha Baron Cohen será Thernardier, Eddie Redmayne será Marius, Aaron Tveit Enjolras, Anne Hathaway será Fantine y Helena Bonham Carter será Madame Thernardier.. Twitchfilm.com ha anunciado y Broadwayworld ha confirmado que la cantante de country-pop Taylor Swift dará vida a Eponine y que la protagonista de la película de Mamma Mia! Amanda Seyfried será Cosette.

Today, Twitchfilm.com has reported and BroadwayWorld.com has confirmed that offers are now out to country-pop singer Taylor Swift for the role of Eponine and to the opera-trained Mamma Mia! film star Amanda Seyfriend as Cosette.

Tony Award-winner Hugh Jackman will close the successful BACK ON BROADWAY limited engagement today.

Casting for the upcoming film adaptation of LES MISÉRABLES is just about complete, with Hugh Jackman taking on the role of Jean Valjean and Russell Crowe squaring off as Javert. Sacha Baron Cohen as Thernardier, Eddie Redmayne as Marius, Aaron Tveit as Enjolras and Anne Hathaway as Fantine were also announced to bring their star power to the cast.

Jackman talks his beginning in theatre, performing in Carnegie Hall for the first time, what he considers to be the 'Halmet of musicals' and the transformation that he needs to make for the upcoming LES MISÉRABLES film; and the star confirms that the film is on track to begin rehearsals at the end of January and start filming in March.

Casting for the upcoming film adaptation of LES MISÉRABLES is well underway, with Hugh Jackman taking on the role of Jean Valjean and Russell Crowe squaring off as Javert. Sacha Baron Cohen as Thernardier, Eddie Redmayne as Marius, and Anne Hathaway as Fantine were also announced to bring their star power to the cast. Now, the Daily Mail reports that Broadway actor - and star of an untitled USA network pilot - Aaron Tveit will join them as Enjolras, the leader of a student revolt.

The UK Sun is reporting that Sacha Baron Cohen, known to musical theatre fans for his turn in SWEENEY TODD opposite Helena Bonham Carter in the Tim Burton film, has joined the upcoming LES MISERABLES film as Monsieur Thernardier. The Sun reports that that he will be reuniting with Bonham Carter in the film. Previous reports had indicated that Geoffrey Rush was in talks to play the part.

According to BBC News, Tom Hooper, who will direct the upcoming bigscreen apdption of stage favorite LES MISERABLES, has officially announce that the film will be shot in 2D. Hooper told BBC: 'I did test 3D and I was very tempted - I think it is a very interesting new form.'

BroadwayWorld.com has just received an open call casting notice for the LES MISERABLES film for the role of Cosette. Auditions will be held at New York's Ripley Grier Studios on December 10 at 11am. Auditionees should prepare a contemporary soprano musical theatre song, and bring sheet music a headshot, and resume.

Having composed the musical scores for some of the biggest films of the century so far, Alexandre Desplat has displayed an uncanny ability to tap into the thoughts, emotions and even the very dramatic themes inherent in properties as diverse as - just to use his most recent projects as examples - TWILIGHT: NEW MOON, HARRY POTTER & THE DEATHLY HALLOWS, Roman Polanski's THE GHOST WRITER and CARNAGE, Stephen Daldry's upcoming EXTREMELY LOUD AND INCREDIBLY CLOSE, George Clooney's THE IDES OF MARCH (another stage-to-screen adaptation like CARNAGE), Terrence Malick's THE TREE OF LIFE, as well as the main theme for MY WEEK WITH MARILYN - performed on the soundtrack by noted pianist Lang Lang. Discussing all aspects of his compositional process as well as outlining his interactions with the respective directors of each entity - his ongoing collaboration with Roman Polanski, first and foremost - Desplat and I delve into the delicate art of film composing and how he has achieved such great success and international acclaim for his incredibly impressive work on a heady list of projects in a relatively short period of time - last year's Best Picture Oscar-winner THE KING'S SPEECH included. Desplat and I also touch on some of his own favorite film composers and he shares his opinions on Broadway and Hollywood music icons such as Bernstein, Sondheim, Cole Porter, Michel Legrand, fellow Modern Music Master Mark Isham and also sheds some light on his plans for the future - and much, much more!

Tony Award-winner Hugh Jackman is currently starring in Hugh Jackman, Back on Broadway, playing through January 1 2012 at The Broadhurst Theatre (235 West 44th Street). Accompanied by an 18-piece orchestra, Hugh Jackman performs a personal selection of his favorite musical numbers that reflect on the stage and film star's remarkable life and career, from The Boy from Oz to Hollywood. Jackman recently visited ANDERSON, where he was introduced to Cooper's stage manger, who also happens to resemble the Aussie. Click below to watch the video!