As for Madame T's husband and partner in crime, Thénardier, who moves from innkeeper to bandit over the expanse of the Victor Hugo tale, Mackintosh was keeping mum on Feb. 8. Filming under director Tom Hooper ("The King's Speech") begins in London in March.

"You can print the most reliable rumor," Mackintosh said with a laugh, skirting an official announcement of the rumored-in-negotiations Sacha Baron Cohen ("Borat"). "I don't think they've been announced yet, so I'm being slightly cagey, but I know who they are! They're a wonderful couple. I just can't tell you if everything is signed! Actually, I can tell you that certainly Madame Thénardier is Helena Bonham Carter. I can tell you that. Which isn't shabby. We have the most amazing cast, now we have to make a bloody good film. I have every hope we will."

Read about the new song written for the film. Hugh Jackman stars as heroic Jean Valjean. Read the recent Playbill story about the Les Miz film cast.

A two-time Oscar nominee, Helena Bonham Carter was Academy Award-nominated for her work in "The King's Speech" (Supporting Role Oscar nominee) and "The Wings of the Dove" (Leading Role Oscar nominee), and appeared in the films "Fight Club," "Howards End," "A Room With a View," "Alice in Wonderland," "Big Fish," "Hamlet" and many others.