BBC One has announced a new small-screen adaptation of Les Miserables.
Dominic West (The Affair) stars as Jean Valjean, and David Oyelowo (Selma) will play his nemesis Javert. Lily Collins (To The Bone) will play Fantine, while newcomer Erin Kellyman will play Eponine. Olivia Colman, Adeel Akhtar and Ellie Bamber will also feature.
Bafta-nominated writer Andrew Davies (Pride And Prejudice, War And Peace), will adapt the six-part series from Victor Hugo’s classic novel.
The series will be directed by Tom Shankland (Ripper Street, House Of Cards). It is a co-production between Lookout Point and BBC Studios for BBC One and PBS Masterpiece.
West called Valjean “one of the great characters in world literature”, and said he couldn’t wait “to get stuck in”, while Collins said she was “thrilled to be playing Fantine”.
Oyelowo said: “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.”
Filming will begin next month in France and Belgium.
Davies said: “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.”
Hugo’s novel has previously been adapted into a 1998 film starring Liam Neeson and a world-famous musical. Tom Hooper’s big screen adaptation of the musical won three Oscars in 2013, including best supporting actress for Anne Hathaway, who played Fantine.
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