Following our report that Hugh Jackman may star in Tom Hooper’s Les Misérables comes news that he may be joined by English actor Paul Bettany. According to Screen Rant, Bettany has tested for the role of Inspector Javert in the film, which is to be the Oscar-winning director’s follow-up to last year’s The King’s Speech.
The film will be an adaptation of the Broadway musical version of Victor Hugo’s Les Misérables, which tells the tale of Jean Valjean, a Frenchman imprisoned for stealing bread, who is on the run from a police officer named Javert. If Bettany wins the role we may get to see him and actor Hugh Jackman, who is being eyed for the part of Valjean, square off on the big screen.
I have high hopes for this film so far. Les Misérables is an excellent piece of work and I can’t think of a better trio to be involved in it’s return to the big screen. Paul Bettany hasn’t gotten the credit he deserves, due in part to starring in a number of action films that weren’t anything special, but a role like this would really let him work his acting muscles.
How about it? Would you like to see him and Hugh Jackman duke it out on the big screen?