Sartaj Singh
Fred Cavayé has found the lead for his adaptation of Victor Hugo’s timeless classic! Moviedelic has learned that Vincent Lindon will star in the period drama film ‘Les Misérables.’ The project will enter production in Marseille, France, in January. Cavayé wrote the screenplay for the movie, which is backed by StudioCanal.
The plot centers on Jean Valjean, a poor peasant struggling to get by during the French Revolution. After stealing a loaf of bread, he is sentenced to five years of grueling labor. When he is released back to society as an ex-convict, he tries to integrate into a changed landscape. Despite his attempts to serve as a force for good, Jean’s criminal past remains close behind him, personified by a police inspector on his trail. Cavayé intends to explore parts of the epic that have not yet been adapted to the silver screen. He also aims to expand on the female characters like Cosette, Fantine, and Eponine.
Lindon is a famed actor known for his performances in several acclaimed French movies. He previously starred in Julia Ducournau’s Palme d’Or-winning ‘Titane’ as Vincent, ‘The Measure of a Man’ as Thierry Taugourdeau, ‘La Haine’ as Homme “Vraiment” Taxi, and ‘Anything for Her’ as Julien Auclert. He most recently appeared in ‘Le Choix’ as Joseph Cross, ‘The Quiet Son’ as Pierre, ‘The Second Act’ as Guillaume Tardie, ‘Of Money and Blood’ as Simon Weynachter, and ‘Like a Son’ as Jacques Romand.
Even though Cavayé seeks to explore new avenues of storytelling and different perspectives within the epic, he recognizes the timeless nature of the work. “There seems to be a tradition that the book gets a film adaptation every 30 or so years, so now is the perfect time to retell the story with stars of this era,” the filmmaker said about his project. “The themes in the story are timeless and universal and resonate with the social issues defining current events in France and beyond today,” he added. His previous credits include ‘This is the Goat!’ ‘Farewell, Mr. Haffmann,’ ‘Mea culpa,’ and ‘Point Blank.’
While the story is traditionally rooted in Paris, Marseille is considered France’s oldest city, and its winding streets, old ports, and grand boulevards can help depict the landscapes of 19th-century France for the ‘Les Misérables’ adaptation. The 2012 adaptation by Tom Hooper was primarily shot in England, with some filming done in Gourdon, France. Marseille has also hosted the shooting of films and shows such as ‘The Count of Monte-Cristo,’ ‘The French Connection,’ ‘Stillwater,’ and Netflix’s ‘Crooks.’
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