After the success of The Count of Monte Cristo, another great classic of French literature, adapted many times, returns to the cinema. And two different feature films are planned!
The successes of Count of Monte Cristo and Three Musketeers were a reminder: film adaptations of literary masterpieces interest the public. It is therefore no surprise that one of the greatest novels in French literature is given a new life on the big screen. With one particularity: it is not one, but two films, made with different teams and actors.
It must be said that this work has already been adapted around fifty times. Since the publication of the novel in 1862, the public does not seem to get tired of it. It must be said that Les Miserables by Victor Hugo is a colossal book, with a strong message, in which the author describes the ravages of poverty and social violence, denounces injustices, while describing major historical events of the early 19th century (the battle of Waterloo or the riots of June 1832).
It is therefore not surprising that the stories of Jean Valjean, Javert, Cosette, Marius or Fantine give rise to multiple adaptations. The next two will be French. Grégory Gadebois (Delicious, Simple things, Louise Violet….) will play the title role of Jean Valjean. This feature film directed by Eric Besnard focuses only on the beginning of the novel and traces “the origin of one of the greatest heroes of French literature”.
Let us remember that Jean Valjean is a convict condemned to the penal colony for having stolen a piece of bread in order to feed his family. Upon his release from prison, he suffered injustice and violence from his fellow citizens. But a bishop’s compassion ultimately stops him from giving in to his evil instincts and encourages him to spend his life doing good.
The second adaptation of Miserable is not yet well defined, but it should offer a more classic rereading of the original work. Vincent Lindon was chosen to play Jean Valjean in this adaptation directed by Fred Cavayé (Farewell Mr Haffmann). For the moment, the release dates of these two projects are not known. Filming on the first adaptation ends in February, while filming on the second will begin this summer.