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The coveted role of Eponine in the Tom Hooper-directed film adaptation of the musical Les Miserables has gone to Samantha Barks. While she’s a newcomer to the screen, Barks starred as Eponine in the London production of Les Miserables in 2010 and reprised the role in the 25th anniversary concert held at the O2 Arena last year. In fact, the stage musical and the movie’s producer, Cameron Mackintosh, announced today from the stage that Barks had the role after she completed a Manchester performance of Oliver, playing the role of Nancy. Barks joins Russell Crowe (Javert), Hugh Jackman (Valjean), Anne Hathaway (Fantine), Eddie Redmayne (Marius), Amanda Seyfried (Cosette) and Aaron Tveit (Enjoiras) in the musical that Universal Pictures and Working Title will release December 7. William Nicholson, Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schonberg wrote the script, and Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner and Debra Hayward are producing with Mackintosh. Barks is repped by UK-based United Agents and Luber Roklin.
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Thank god it’s not Taylor Swift.
Yes. We all dodged a bullet here.
amen to that!
Agree. I saw the 25th Anniversary on DVD and Samantha killed it. She’s a terrific talent.
Come to think of it, so was the black guy who played Javert. I don’t know who he was, but if I were a scout his a$$ would be in movies tomorrow.
Thank god the movie won’t be ruined by Taylor swift!!! Who the hell’s idea was it to have her play eponine anyways? She’s a country singer not a musical theatre singer. Thank God!!!!
oh thank god its not taylor swift the cast sounds good so far
Yes, Tom Hooper was smart not to go 3D with this musical , and now he decided to cast an actress that is not over-exposed and actually has talent. Thank you, Tom.
Actually it Cameron who vetoed Tom on the decision of Taylor Swift. Cameron was very to even see Taylor for an audition but Hooper kept on persisting him to see her for at least a callback.
She failed her callback audition so he vetoed Tom’s request.
It was really Tom Hooper and the studio who was gunning to get Taylro Swift for Eponine but Cameron knew from the start she just didn’t have the chops for the role.
I guess we’ll get a statement from Taylor’s reps in a few minutes citing the old “scheduling conflicts” excuse?
So they heard her “sing”, realized she couldn’t, and dumped her. At least she’ll have something new to whine about on her next album.
Yay, Samantha! She’s so beautiful & talented. Sometimes the good people do finish first. Now I do want to see the movie.
Woooooh! Hallelujah!!!
First and foremost, Samantha Barks did a lovely job in the 25th anniversary concert and will be terrific in the film.
Secondly, thank God it’s not Taylor Swift.
Wow… I thought it was confirmed that Swift had the role… someone mislead the public, and I don’t think it was Hooper.
I saw Ms. Barks in the 25th anniversary concert and she was very good.
No, Taylor Swift was never confirmed as Eponine. It was only stated that she had been offered the role…
Thank God! I would have NEVER gone to see the movie had Taylor Swift invaded it! Wow, what a concept….a musical actress for a musical!
I hope she can act on the movie screen though. I’ve watched her performances and her expressions/movement seem a bit detached. I suppose that’s what Hooper is there for.
Saw her on the DVD of the 25th anni of Les Miz.
She blew me away.
Congrats to Samantha!
Now….why don’t all producers and studios act accordingly.
The talent pool is in the theatre.
Go see it!
Hate to be a mega dork, but–it’s Enjolras, not Enjoiras. That’s an L, not an I.
Oh, thank God. Thank God. Samantha Barks was the first Eponine I heard, (25th Anniversary) and from the second I heard about this movie, I wanted her in it.
So imagine my reaction when I heard the role of Eponine went to Taylor Swift.
Now, Taylor Swift is a great singer with great talent. However, she is not Eponine. Eponine is a young girl, in love with someone who doesn’t love her back. She has lived on the streets of France since she was young; she has been forced to help her father in his robberies; etcetera. She is a sad, tragic character. Meanwhile, Taylor Swift’s music is very peppy and upbeat and fairy-tale-ish. I cannot see her singing “On My Own”. Her voice has a bit of a country twang that, while sweet elsewhere, will make “A Little Fall of Rain” positively laughable.
It’s quite clear that she was cast as an attempt to bring in a larger audience.
Thank God that Hollywood saw sense for once and placed Samantha Barks in the role. Ah, I can breathe again and look forward to this movie.
I see your amen and double it!
Thank god it is not Tonedeaf Taylor Swift! She cannot sing on key live and has no range or power in her voice. Carrie Underwood could have pulled off the songs nicely but taylor woukd have ruined it. but i am actually glad they went with a broadway singer.
YES!! YES YES YES! Not just because Taylor Swift isn’t in it, but because she is AMAZING! If they had picked Lea Michele I would have said they made the right decision, considering the other actresses we were led to believe might be picked, but Samantha Barks is a SUPERB choice. I will now stop talking bad about Tom Hooper and the casting director.