It might still be coming together, but the cast of the long-awaited film version of "Les Miserables," directed by "The King's Speech"'s Oscar winning director Tom Hooper, is what can politely be described as 'eclectic.' Two burly Australian leading men, Hugh Jackman and Russell Crowe, have the lead roles, one a Broadway veteran, one a rock star hobbyist. Anne Hathaway, a gifted singer, albeit one with little stage musical experience, is also involved, while a rising star, Eddie Redmayne, an acclaimed actress, Helena Bonham Carter and a comedian, Sacha Baron Cohen, will likely take supporting roles, and "Mamma Mia" star Amanda Seyfried recently signed on, with fresh-faced popstar Taylor Swift mulling over an offer to join her.
And now another curveball has been thrown; relative unknown Aaron Tveit has signed on to play Enjorlas, the leader of the student rebellion, in the picture. Tveit's perhaps most familiar from a recurring role on "Gossip Girl," and for a role opposite James Franco in "Howl," but he's also a Broadway veteran, having starred in "Next To Normal," "Catch Me If You Can" and "Wicked" on the Great White Way. He'll also feature later in the year in the Joseph Gordon-Levitt actioner "Premium Rush."
The actor's musical experience clearly makes him a smart hire for Hooper, even if we can't attest to his fit for the role ourselves, but for the most part, it's turning out to be an intriguing, if odd-fitting, cast. Filming will get underway any day now; the film's already set for an Academy-baiting December 7th release date. [The Hollywood Reporter]