Victor Hugo’s classic LES MISERABLES is getting another adaptation in the form of a six-part mini-series from Weinstein Television and BBC. Andrew Davies, who penned BBC and A&E Networks’ War & Peace adaptation will write the series.
The story follows Jean Valjean, a French convict who attempts to escape his past while being hunted by Inspector Javert, set during the French Revolution. It was adapted into the famous musical of the same name, which has gone on to become one of the longest running musicals on Broadway, behind Cats and Phantom Of The Opera. The musical was made into a movie starring Hugh Jackman and Russell Crowe in 2012 by Tom Hooper, and landed Anne Hathaway an Oscar for her role as Fantine. Davies’s version will not be a musical, but will follow the original story more closely.
Les Mis has been adapted in non-musical versions several times over the years. The first was in 1935 by Richard Boleslawski, and more recently as a film in 1998 starring Liam Neeson and Geoffrey Rush. There was also a miniseries in 2000 starring Gerard Depardieu and John Malkovich, which is one of the truest to the novel.
Davies is no stranger to sweeping period adaptations like Les Mis. He has previously written Pride And Prejudice, starring Colin Firth and Jennifer Ehle, Daniel Deronda, Doctor Zhivago, Bleak House, and Little Dorritt, among others. He also wrote the original UK series House Of Cards, and the feature adaptations Brideshead Revisited and The Three Musketeers.
Davies is repped by Paradigm and The Agency in the UK.
Emily J | Staff Writer
