The musical Les Miserables is now in its 25th year on the London stage, so One Day More, or rather one year more (or two), of waiting for a screen version won't hurt.

Cameron Mackintosh, the producer behind the Alain Boublil, Claude-Michel Schönberg and Herbert Kretzmer musical, has joined forces with the London-based film studio Working Title to bring the landmark show to the big screen.

It's early days, but Cameron and Eric Fellner, who runs WT with Tim Bevan, are signed up to making the picture together.

I gather one of the things that prompted them to converse was observing the whirlwind way Les Miserables hit the headlines when Susan Boyle sang the Act I song I Dreamed A Dream on Britain's Got Talent, which was viewed 85 million times on YouTube.

The stage production, at the Queen's Theatre on Shaftesbury Avenue, had been doing well anyway, but ticket sales soared - and studio chiefs saw how deep the public's affection for the show was.

The London production alone has made a profit of £30 million during its 24 years in London. If you invested £1 back then, you would have made £3,300.

Cameron and Fellner have spoken about potential directors; no one has been signed yet, but I understand a major name is in their sights.

The movie wouldn't go into production before 2011 or early 2012, because Cameron is busy with a string of stage shows, plus a new big-screen version of My Fair Lady (also looking for a director after the departure of Oscar-winner Danny Boyle), and WT have to see to other projects before Les Mis will be made.

Casting has not been discussed, but I've been thinking about the likes of Russell Crowe as Jean Valjean, the convict who conceals his identity and drives the story - and wouldn't it be great to get Hugh Jackman as Inspector Javert, the official who for years pursues prisoner 24601?

Cameron told me that there are 'endless casting possibilities for all the roles', but refused to discuss specific actors with me.

He did tell me, however, about a touring production which kicks off at the Millennium Centre, Cardiff, from December 12 with John Owen-Jones as Valjean and Gareth Gates as Marius. (Most of the shows are sold out already.)

The production - a new version based on the original but now directed by Laurence Connor and James Powell, and with new designs by Matt Kinley inspired by Victor Hugo's drawings and John Napier's original concept - will visit Manchester, Norwich, Birmingham, Edinburgh and Paris.

The show continues at the Queen's Theatre, London, where it will have its 25th anniversary celebrations next year.

I can't think of anything to say about this that hasn't already been said millions of times...

If Glee becomes the massive hit it looks like it will, than Lea Michele has my vote for Eponine (don't kill me anyone XD)

I say Jason Segel for Valjean and Neil Patrick Harris for Javert.


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or would they strictly choose Hollywood names?

Part of me is excited for this, part of me is absolutely sure they will screw it up and a little voice inside my head is going: "What if they get Efron as Marius or John Travolta as Mme Thénardier?"

If Efron was Marius I would die from the horror. Even though quite a few people I know would love it (well, one person. No one agrees with her. Except her identical twin.) i would hate it. Now I have that horrible picture in my mind. Eww. Just, no offene to the guy, but it just wouldn't be right.