Tveit, who created the role of Gabe in Next to Normal on Broadway and later starred as Frank Abagnale Jr. in Catch Me If You Can, has signed on as the heroic student who inspires an uprising against the government in early 19th-century Paris. Playbill received independent confirmation of Tveit's deal on Jan. 18. The negotiations were first reported in London's Daily Mail in December. The Hollywood Reporter was first to report the deal Jan. 18.
Enjolras and his fellow students protest the government, build barricades and face down bullets. He sings the anthemic "Do You Hear the People Sing?" in the international hit musical by Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schönberg.
Tom Hooper ("The King's Speech") has gathered a principal cast that so far includes Tony Award winner Hugh Jackman as Jean Valjean, Russell Crowe as Inspector Javert, Amanda Seyfried as Cosette, Anne Hathaway as Fantine and Tony Award winner Eddie Redmayne (Red) as Marius.
Les Misérables, from Universal Pictures and Working Title Films, will begin shooting in March toward a Dec. 7 release.
The film, drawing from the Victor Hugo novel and the international stage musical produced by Cameron Mackintosh, has a screenplay by William Nicholson, Boublil and Schönberg. Tim Bevan and Eric Fellner will produce for Working Title alongside Cameron Mackintosh and Debra Hayward.
Sacha Baron Cohen and Helena Bonham Carter have been mentioned for the Thenardiers, the corrupt inkeepers and opportunists whose band of thieves intertwines with the lives of fugitive-turned-gentleman Jean Valjean and adopted daughter Cosette.
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The film is based on the Claude-Michel Schonberg-Alain Boublil musical, which has English lyrics by Herbert Kretzmer. Among its famous musical numbers are "I Dreamed a Dream," "A Heart Full of Love," "Do You Hear the People Sing?," "Empty Chairs at Empty Tables," "Bring Him Home," "Stars" and "Master of the House."
The original London production continues in the West End. An American touring production of the revised 25th anniversary version of the show is now traveling the country. A separate Canadian production will be spawned in Toronto in 2012.
For the record, the stage musical is by Boublil (book), Schönberg (book and music) and Herbert Kretzmer (lyrics).
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Director Hooper won the Academy Award for his direction of the Oscar-winning Best Picture "The King's Speech." Hooper's film credits include "The Damned United," about an English football coach. He was also director of the acclaimed miniseries "John Adams."
Hathaway played Viola in The Public Theater's Shakespeare in the Park production of Twelfth Night in 2009. Her film credits include the upcoming Batman picture "The Dark Knight Rises" (as Catwoman), plus "The Princess Diaries" and its sequel, "The Devil Wears Prada," "One Day," "Rachel Getting Married" (for which she was nominated for an Oscar), "Bride Wars," "Love and Other Drugs," "Alice in Wonderland" and more.
Jackman, who was seen on screen in "X-Men Origins: Wolverine," is also known for his film roles in the "X-Men" trilogy, "Someone Like You," "Swordfish," "Kate and Leopold," "Van Helsing" and the recent "The Fountain" and "Happy Feet" (in voice). His stage credits also include Trevor Nunn's staging of Oklahoma! at Britian's National Theatre and award-winning work in productions of Sunset Boulevard and Beauty and the Beast in his homeland, Australia.
Russell Crowe's films include "Gladiator" (for which he won the Academy Award), "A Beautiful Mind," "L.A. Confidential," "Master and Commander," "Robin Hood," "State of Play," "Body of Lies," "The Insider," "The Sum of Us" and more.
