‘Les Miserables’: Hugh Jackman, Eddie Redmayne went after roles

Hugh Jackman stalked Tom Hooper; Eddie Redmayne sent in an audition on his iPhone. In fact, according to the British actor, all of Hollywood “leapt out of the musical theater closet” to try to land a part in Hooper’s adaptation of “Les Miserables.”

Such was the discussion at The Envelope Screening Series for Universal Pictures’ musical “Les Miserables.” The discussion also included actresses Anne Hathaway and Amanda Seyfried.

Jackman admitted that once the stalking ended and he landed the part, he did have a brief moment of, “Oh, wow, now I’ve got to do it.” But for Hooper, spending three hours with Jackman auditioning gave the director the confidence to eliminate most of the script’s dialogue in exchange for a sung-through musical.

“The key to this is hiring actors who have such a facility, such a confidence expressing themselves through song,” that audiences accept the altered reality being created, Hooper said.

For more on Jackman, Redmayne and their quest for the roles, take a look at the video above.

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