Les Misérables is generating major Oscar buzz right now, but the movie almost didn’t happen.
Les Miz lyricist Alain Boublil told me at a private party for the film that for 25 years he dreamed that the musical would be made into a movie, “because I’m very much a movie buff as well as a theater person,” he said.
“It didn’t happen several times. There were some missed hopes that it would happen in the past with [directors] Alan Parker, Bruce Beresford, Oliver Stone, if I remember. We had long discussions.”
The lyricist added, “I’m very thrilled with Tom Hooper, because he’s exactly the right person. He’s both an intellectual and a man of spectacle, and this is what Claude-Michel, my partner and I, think we are, too, so that is the exact combination.”
Not only did a myriad number of names come up as possible directors, but Cameron Mackintosh told me that many big stars auditioned for the lead roles. Director Tom Hooper told me Hugh Jackman auditioned for him and a musical director for thee hours.
Read Jane Boursaw’s review of Les Miserables.
