Hugh Jackman gets new song for ‘Les Miserables’ movie

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The film version of the musical ‘Les Misérables’ will have a new song sung by Hugh Jackman, the actor has announced.

Jackman, who is set to play the lead role of Jean Valjean, said on his Twitter account that composer Claude-Michel Schönberg had penned the new number.

Little else is known about the song at this point. Jackman tweeted that he is in rehearsals for the movie. Filming is expected to begin soon, with a release date expected in December.

The movie, directed by Tom Hooper, also will star Russell Crowe as Inspector Javert, Anne Hathaway as Fantine, Amanda Seyfried as Cosette and Samantha Barks as Eponine. The cast is also expected to include Helena Bonham Carter and Sacha Baron Cohen as the Thénardiers.

New songs aren’t uncommon when stage musicals move to the big screen. Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice wrote a new song for the 1996 film version of ‘Evita,’ and won an Oscar for it.

Lloyd Webber also wrote a new song for the 2004 film ‘The Phantom of the Opera,’ working with lyricist Charles Hart. Songwriter Maury Yeston wrote an original number for the 2009 movie version of his musical ‘Nine.’

Schönberg penned the original score for ‘Les Misérables.’ The musical, based on the Victor Hugo novel, debuted on Broadway in 1987 and ran through 2003. A new touring production recently played at the Ahmanson Theatre.

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-- David Ng