In recent years the BBC has been pulling the stops for their big-budget TV adaptions and now the Beeb has now gone even further with their adaptation of Les Miserables. It’s set to become the most lavish TV show in history including one of the most star-studded casts in recent memory.
It’s been revealed Andrew Davies will be writing the six-part series after previously handling recent BBC adaptations of Pride and Prejudice and War & Peace. He was also the writer behind the original House of Cards series.
The cast Davies has got together is incredible with Dominic West as the Jean Valjean the kind-hearted ex-con and The Wire star is joined by Golden Globe nominee David Oyelowo as Javert. Both stars will also be Executive Producers.
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| IMAGE VIA BBC |
“Jean Valjean is one of the great characters in world literature. His epic journey of redemption is one of the extraordinary roles an actor can take on, and I can’t wait to get stuck in to bringing Andrew’s brilliant adaptation to the screen” said West.
Oyelowo added, “To play an iconic role like Javert is any actor’s dream, but to play it as written by Andrew Davies goes beyond my wildest dreams."
They’ll be joined by Lily Collins, who’ll play the doomed mother Fantine. Meanwhile, Queen of UK TV Olivia Colman and Murder By My Father’s Adeel Akhtar will be playing Madame and Monsieur Thenardier.
Other notable castings are Pride and Prejudice and Zombies’ Ellie Bamber as Fantine’s daughter Cosette, EE BAFTA Rising Star nominee Josh O’Connor as revolutionary Marius and finally, Erin Kellyman from Raised By Wolves will be Eponine.
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| TOP - COLMAN, AKHTAR; BOTTOM - BAMBER, O'CONNOR, KELLYMAN |
Love, Rosie star Collins can’t contain her excitement saying, “I’m so thrilled to be playing Fantine. She is a legendary character whose tragic story feels as relevant to tell today as when Les Misérables was first published.
“Andrew’s wonderful dramatisation opens up the character in fresh ways that I’ve never seen before in previous adaptations. And with this amazing cast coming together it really feels like it could be something very special indeed" added Collins.
Unlike the film and stage version, Davies will be focusing his series on Victor Hugo’s original book instead of the popular musical.
“This is such an intense and gut-wrenching story and I am delighted that this esteemed ensemble of actors will be bringing it to life - led by Dominic West and David Oyelowo in the iconic roles of Jean Valjean and his nemesis Javert” Davies explained.
“In Valjean, we see the terrifying anger and resentment against society but also the tenderness that is hidden deep in his complex psyche. And in Javert, the ferocious dedication to duty that takes him from obsession to madness.”
Filming for the miniseries will begin in Belgium and Northern France in February and will likely air on BBC One at some point next year, my best guess being New Year 2019.
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