As previously reported, Hugh Jackman will take the role of moral hero Jean Valjean in the film of Les Miz, which has its roots in the London, Broadway and international hit produced by Cameron Mackintosh.

Tom Hooper, the Oscar-winning director of "The King's Speech," is expected to direct the film. Given the socially turbulent early 19th-century period in which the tale is set, the movie version produced by Working Title Films is to be a big-budget experience teeming with a large cast. Universal will distribute.

The stage musical is by Alain Boublil (book), Claude-Michel Schönberg (book and music) and Herbert Kretzmer (lyrics). William Nicholson has been mentioned as screenwriter.

Hooper's film credit before the Academy Award-winning "The King's Speech" was "The Damned United," about an English football coach. He was also director of the acclaimed miniseries "John Adams."

Hathaway appeared in the Public Theater production of Twelfth Night and the City Center Encores! concert production of Carnival! An Academy Award nominee for "Rachel Getting Married," her other film work includes "Love and Other Drugs," "Alice in Wonderland," "Becoming Jane," "The Devil Wears Prada," "Brokeback Mountain," "Ella Enchanted" and "The Princess Diairies."