Confirmed: Anne Hathaway playing Fantine in “Les Miserables”

October 18, 2011 | Posted by Linda Ge in Casting 2 Comments

We’re not so psyched about this news, but here it is. As had been rumored for a couple months now, Anne Hathaway will indeed be joining Hugh Jackman and Russell Crowe in Tom Hooper’s big screen adaptation of blockbuster hit musical “Les Miserables.” She will play Fantine, a poor young woman desperate to do anything she can to make money to send to the couple who is caring for her young daughter Cosette. Deadline reported this morning Hathaway has closed her deal so this is finally official.

The Claude-Michel Schönberg musical, based on the classic novel by Victor Hugo, is the World’s Longest Running Musical and follows 19th century convict Jean Valjean (Jackman), who has been let out after 19 years in prison, as he finds redemption, goes on the run after breaking parole and fends off the relentless Inspector Javert (Crowe). Along the way, he takes Cosette under his wing and a new generation of characters joins the story as she comes of age and falls in love with young revolutionary Marius. Hathaway’s Fantine only appear in a supporting role, but she will get to sing one of the most famous songs of the musical, the emotional and tragic “I Dreamed a Dream”.

No word yet on other key roles like Marius, Eponine, Cosette and Enjolras, though as previously reported, Hooper is said to be looking for significantly younger actors to play the roles, rather than people in their 20s. Filming is set to begin early 2012, with a release date already set for December 7, 2012.

Hathaway is no stranger to musical theater, having been the last standing finalist for the role of Christine Daae in Joel Schumacher’s “The Phantom of the Opera”, before losing out to Emmy Rossum. We still question that decision! She’s also made no secret of her lovely voice, singing while hosting “Saturday Night Live” and then, famously, the Oscars. The former Disney star turned Oscar-nominated actress is currently shooting the role of Selina Kyle aka Catwoman in Christopher Nolan’s final Batman film, “The Dark Knight Rises.”

Don’t let the zombies win: Five actresses who could still salvage “Pride and Prejudice and Zombies”

October 5, 2011 | Posted by Linda Ge and Rebecca Lewis in Casting, Features 1 Comment

Emma Stone won’t be Elizabeth Bennet. And neither will Blake Lively. Nor Anne Hathaway, Natalie Portman, Scarlett Johansson, or Mia Wasikowska.

We’re stumped. And so is most of Hollywood. What is it about this script that is stopping these talented young actresses from taking on, what we feel, is a new and exciting adaptation of a much-loved character?

In Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, an adaptation of the Jane Austen novel by Seth Grahame-Smith, the classic love story has been turned on it’s head with the inclusion of zombies and an ass-kicking, straight-talking, zombie-killing Elizabeth Bennet. But the film adaptation has gone through not only several casting changes but directors as well, with Richard Kelly first attached, then David O. Russell and next Mike White. Most recently, Craig Gillespie has signed on to direct the Lionsgate film, which for some reason unbeknownst to everyone, cannot hold on to a lead actress.

This is a cause for concern but we love the concept and hope it can still come together despite the setbacks, so here we present our five favorites for the role of Elizabeth Bennet. Some are still waiting for a big break out role, and others are on the cusp of something big, but they’ve all got the talent and that classic Victorian look to turn this film’s bad luck around and save us all from a zombie apocalypse.

Hugh Jackman gives updates on “Les Miserables”; Emma Watson won’t be Cosette

September 23, 2011 | Posted by Linda Ge in Casting, General News 1 Comment

Those hoping to hear Hermione sing will have to wait a little longer. London’s The Daily Mail confirms that recent reports of Emma Watson being cast as Cosette in Tom Hooper’s big screen adaptation of “Les Miserables” are, in fact, incorrect. She will not be in the film. The only confirmed cast members thus far are Hugh Jackman as noble ex-con Jean Valjean and Russell Crowe as his arch nemesis, Inspector Javert. Hooper has also offered roles to Anne Hathaway (as Cosette’s mother Fantine) and Helena Bonham Carter (as greedy but hilarious innkeeper’s wife Mrs Thenardier), but they are not officially on board yet.

The Daily Mail’s Baz Bamigboye goes on to report that Hooper will be looking for 17 and 18 year old actors – not people in their 20s – to play the student revolutionaries, which includes Marius, Cosette’s love interest; Eponine, a streetwise friend of Marius’ who’s in unrequited love with him and sings “On My Own”, the most famous song of the show; and Enjolras, the leader of the revolutionary army. Unfortunately for us, this apparently means our dream cast has little chance of actually coming together.

Filming is set to begin in March with rehearsals starting in January and February for the main cast. Jackman spoke to Bamigboye about the music aspect of mounting a big screen musical: “There’s the option of recording live or lip-synching and I’ve been down the lip-synching route with the video of ‘Oklahoma!’” Jackman says.

“I think singing live might work better with this, but Tom won’t make a decision just yet.”

Anne Hathaway may dream a dream as Fantine in “Les Miserables”

August 30, 2011 | Posted by Linda Ge in Casting 5 Comments

Hugh Jackman has made no secret of the fact that he wants to co-star with Anne Hathaway – who he romanced in an Oscar opening number the year he hosted – and it looks like he may now get his wish. Jackman is thus far the only official cast member of Tom Hooper’s big screen adaptation of international blockbuster musical “Les Miserables”, playing the lead role of Jean Valjean, and BroadwayWorld.com reports Hathaway may be joining him imminently. To add credence to the rumor, reps for the actress confirm to EW that Hathaway is indeed “considering” taking the part of the doomed young mother Fantine.

The Claude-Michel Schönberg musical, based on the novel by Victor Hugo, is the World’s Longest Running Musical and follows 19th century convict Jean Valjean, who has been let out after 19 years in prison, as he finds redemption, goes on the run after breaking parole and fends off the relentless Inspector Javert. Along the way, he takes Fantine’s young daughter Cosette under his wing and a new generation of characters joins the story as she comes of age and falls in love with young revolutionary Marius. If Hathaway takes the job, she’ll only appear in a supporting role, but she will get to sing one of the most famous songs of the musical, the emotional and desperate “I Dreamed a Dream”.

Other alarming rumors have names like Hayden Panettiere, Miranda Cosgrove, Lucy Hale and Emma Watson in the running for the roles of Cosette and Eponine (Marius’ friend who pines unrequitedly for him and sings perhaps the most famous song of the musical: “On My Own”), though there’s been no further word on that thus far. As far as we are concerned, we’ll be content for that to stay strictly in the rumor column.

Marion Coatillard and Joseph Gordon-Levitt are Cast in ‘Dark Knight Rises’

April 19, 2011 | Posted by Tamara Manne in Casting Leave a comment

After months of speculation, the roles of Marion Cotillard and Joseph Gordon-Levitt in The Dark Knight Rises have been confirmed. According to The Hollywood Reporter, this “conclusion of the Dark Knight legend,” will bring director Christopher Nolan, Cotillard and Gordon-Levit together again.

The Dark Knight Rises is becoming a near-reunion for Inception stars, as — among the many “Dark Knight” actors — Cotillard and Gordon-Levitt will also be joining Michael Caine and Tom Hardy. In a statement, Nolan said, “When you collaborate with people as talented as Marion and Joe, it comes as no surprise that you would want to repeat the experience.”

Cotillard will play Miranda Tate, a board member of Wayne Enterprises and Bruce Wayne sympathizer. Gordon-Levitt will play Gotham City beat cop John Blake.

The Dark Knight Rises stars Christian Bale as Batman and Anne Hathaway as Selina Kyle.

Production begins this summer, and the film is set to release on July 20, 2012.

“The Social Network” star Josh Pence lands pivotal role in “The Dark Knight Rises”

April 8, 2011 | Posted by Linda Ge in Casting 1 Comment

Josh Pence, often called the unsung hero of “The Social Network”, might finally have his moment in the sun. After body-doubling as the Winklevoss twins and then having his face digitally replaced with that of Armie Hammer’s, thus erasing 99% of acknowledgment for his work on the film, Pence has now landed a whopper of a follow-up, one that is likely to be the breakout moment that “Social Network” wasn’t. THR reports that Pence has landed the role of a young Ra’s Al Ghul in Christopher Nolan’s next (and final) installment of his Batman trilogy, “The Dark Knight Rises”.

Pence’s character will appear in flashback scenes. The present day Al Ghul was played by Liam Neeson in “Batman Begins” and though he seemingly died in the first film, the door appears to now be open for his return. Adding credence to that possibility is the strong rumor that Marion Cotillard will be playing Talia Al Ghul, love interest to Christian Bale’s Bruce Wayne and the senior Al Ghul’s daughter. Pence joins Neeson, Cotillard and Bale in addition Anne Hathaway as Selina Kyle/Catwoman, Tom Hardy as Bane, Juno Temple as a streetwise Gotham teen and Joseph Gordon-Levitt in a still unspecified role. Michael Caine, Gary Oldman and Morgan Freeman are also reprising their roles.

Pence followed up his thankless role in “The Social Network” with a slightly more noticeable one in upcoming action blockbuster “Battleship”, also with Neeson and Taylor Kitsch. “The Dark Knight Rises” will film this summer, with four to six weeks scheduled for Pittsburgh.

Juno Temple is officially going to Gotham City

March 24, 2011 | Posted by Lindsey Young in Casting Leave a comment

Last week, while Joseph Gordon-Levitt was confirmed to be joining the cast of Christopher Nolan‘s latest installment to the Batman franchise ”The Dark Knight Rises,” the word that Juno Temple was being considered for a supporting role was still swirling around and up in the air. According to IndieWire, Temple has now been confirmed for the project and will be joining Batman veteran Christian Bale, along with new additions to the franchise Tom Hardy and Anne Hathaway.

There is still no official word on who Gordon-Levitt is set to play, but Temple will be taking on the roleof a “street-smart Gotham girl.” While Hardy and Hathaway will be portraying the iconic, recognizable roles of Bane and Selina Kyle/Catwoman, respectively, Temple’s character was completed made up for the film by Nolan and co.

“The Dark Knight Rises” is scheduled to start filming in May with a tentative release date of July 20, 2012.

Joseph Gordon-Levitt confirmd for “The Dark Knight Rises”; Juno Temple eyed for supporting role

March 18, 2011 | Posted by Linda Ge in Casting 1 Comment

After weeks of rumor and speculation, Joseph Gordon-Levitt has closed a deal to reunite with “Inception” director Christopher Nolan on his third and final “Batman” film, “The Dark Knight Rises”. In addition, Variety also reports that Juno Temple is being considered for a supporting role as a street-smart Gotham girl, though no formal offers have been made yet.

Gordon-Levitt’s character remain tightly under wraps, though speculation from last year pegged him as iconic Batman villain The Riddler, last seen portrayed by Jim Carrey in Joel Schumacher’s 1995 “Batman Forever”. Whoever he plays, he will be joining something of an “Inception” reunion, with not only Nolan behind the camera but also Tom Hardy, perhaps the biggest breakout from the mind-bending summer blockbuster, who will be playing the role of Bane, and maybe Marion Cotillard as well. Cotillard’s role is rumored to be that of love interest to Christian Bale’s tititular superhero, Thalia Al Ghul, the daughter of the villain Ra’s al Ghul, played by Liam Neeson in “Batman Begins”. So, what, was Ellen Page unavailable to play the street-smart Gotham girl? Anne Hathaway is also on board to play Selina Kyle aka Catwoman.

Gordon-Levitt has a clear summer schedule, after filming on time-travel thriller “Looper” ends. His long gestating Jonathan Levine cancer comedy “50/50″ will finally see release on September 30th. Temple was most recently seen in Sundance’s “Little Birds” and was a finalist to play the princess in Bryan Singer’s “Jack the Giant Killer”. She’ll next be seen as Queen Ann in “The Three Musketeers 3D”, in the lesbian werewolf picture “Jack and Diane”. She just wrapped “Killer Joe” opposite Emile Hirsch and will soon begin filming indie thriller “A Single Shot”.

“The Dark Knight Rises” begins filming in May with a projected release date of July 20, 2012.

Julianne Hough to duet with Tom Cruise in “Rock of Ages”

March 3, 2011 | Posted by Linda Ge in Casting 1 Comment

Looks like Anne Hathaway dodged a bullet. Kidding. Sort of. Though the Oscar host had been in talks to join the big screen adaptation of Broadway hit “Rock of Ages”, Variety reports that it’s now “Dancing with the Stars” champion turned country singer turned actress Julianne Hough who is in final negotiations to play the female lead, Sherrie, in the film. Hough’s character will be an aspiring actress/waitress who lands in a love triangle with still yet to be cast male lead Drew, an aspiring musician, and Stacee Jaxx, a bad-boy rockstar played by Tom Cruise.

Set in the 80s, the musical is littered with iconic 80s rock songs, with Drew and Sherrie falling in love to “Waiting for a Girl Like You”, and Stacee and Sherrie on “I Want to Know What Love Is” before their love scene. Russell Brand is also still circling the role of club manager Lonnie, with Alec Baldwin eying Dennis, the club’s owner. The two of them would have their own duet to REO Speedwagon’s “I Can’t Fight this Feeling Anymore.”

Hough joins many aspiring cross-over artists attempting to succeed in more than one medium, and perhaps takes a smart approach by signing onto roles that play to her strengths as a singer and dancer. Before belting out 80s tunes in the all-star “Rock of Ages”, she’ll co-headline the remake of another hit musical, “Footloose”, made famous by Kevin Bacon in 1984. She’ll be joined by fellow newcomer Kenny Wormald in the October 14, 2011 release.

“Rock of Ages” begins filming under the direction of Adam Shankman on May 19.

Watch: Anne Hathaway and James Franco go to Oscar Training Camp

February 22, 2011 | Posted by Linda Ge in Videos 1 Comment

Watch as Oscar hosts Anne Hathaway and James Franco undergo extensive physical training to prepare for the biggest night of their lives. Agility training, strength training and speed trials are all a part of their preparation for the live show this Sunday, where anything can happen. Are they prepared to deal with unacceptable speeches, wardrobe malfunctions and any other catastrophes that could occur? Oh who cares, look how cute!

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