19 hours Ago By Melanie Goodfellow
EXCLUSIVE: Tahar Rahim , Camille Cottin , Benjamin Lavernhe and Noémie Merlant have been confirmed for the cast of Fred Cavayé’s action-skewed adaptation of Les Misérables as Studiocanal gears up to launch sales in Cannes. They join Vincent Lindon who was previously announced for the role of Jean Valjean, the hero of Victor Hugo’s 1862 classic novel who transforms from hardened ex-convict and parole breaker to benevolent industrialist. Les Misérables marks a departure for Cavayé whose credits include World War Two drama Farewell, Mr.
Haffman , comedy drama Nothing to Hide (the French version of Italian hit Perfect Strangers ) and thrillers such as Anything for Her , which was remade in English with Russell Crowe as The Next Three Days . Related Stories Studiocanal Hires Hooman Afshari & Lutz Rippe As Co-CEOs In Germany 'Geek Girl' Renewed For Season 2 By Netflix After Delay Rahim ( Madame Web , Monsieur Aznavour ) will play Valjean’s nemesis Inspector Javert, who becomes obsessed with tracking him down. Benjamin Lavernhe, seen recently in the French hit The Marching Band , and Call My Agent! star Camille Cottin, will appear as evil innkeepers Thénardier and Madame Thénardier.
Watch on Deadline Noémie Merlant ( Tàr ) has signed for the role of the tragic figure of Fantine, whose daughter, Cosette, Valjean takes in as his own. Cosette will be played by Megan Northam ( Rabia ), opposite Vassili Schneider ( The Count of Monte-Cristo ) as her young admirer Marius. Further cast members include Marie Colomb and Sayyid El Alami.
Key crew include cinematographer Denis Rouden ( Farewell, Mr. Haffman ), costume designer Pierre-Jean Larroque ( Lost Illusions , No Chains, No Masters ) and production designer Pierre Quéfféléan ( See You Up There , Marie Antoinette ). The feature is produced by Richard Grandpierre at Eskwad Productions ( The Tuche Family franchise, Big Bug , Brotherhood of the Wolf ) and Olivier Delbosc at Curiosa Films ( The Quiet Son , Of Blood and Money ), in co-production with Studiocanal, TF1 Films Production, Canal+ and Netflix .
Studiocanal will handle distribution in France as well as international sales. Cavayé, who has co-written the screenplay adaptation with Clémence Madeleine Perdrillat and Benjamin Dupas, is promising to remain faithful to the original novel at the same time as putting the accent on Valjean’s flight from Javert, the story’s social injustice elements and strong female characters to give the film contemporary mainstream appeal. “It offers the perfect mix of a great literary story and spectacular adventure tale,” he says.
Hugo’s Les Misérables has inspired adaptations across multiple popular culture formats from comic books to mangas to films and TV shows. There have been more than 45 feature film adaptations to date. The official synopsis for Cavayé’s adaptation reads: “After enduring 16 years in prison for stealing a loaf of bread, Jean Valjean emerges a hardened man.
He seeks redemption by reinventing himself as a respected dignitary under a new identity. He promises Fantine, a dying factory worker, to rescue and protect her daughter Cosette, who is being exploited and mistreated by the deceitful Thénardier family. As Valjean raises Cosette as his own, he is relentlessly pursued by Inspector Javert.
Amidst the social unrest shaking France, the fates of Valjean, Cosette, her lover Marius, and Javert become intertwined in a turbulent, revolutionary Paris. Through struggles, sacrifices, and a deep yearning for justice, Valjean strives to complete his journey of redemption and offer Cosette a future of love and freedom.” The production will begin a 17-week shoot between Paris and Bordeaux on July 21.
.
