Comments on: Opera Tenor Alfie Boe Being Eyed For The Role Of Jean Valjean In Tom Hooper’s ‘Les Misérables’

By: Ginny Heilemann

Ginny Heilemann — Fri, 13 May 2016 14:49:07 +0000

Colm Wilkinson was a relative unknown before he played Valjean when Les Miserables debuted in 1985. Alfie Boe was unknown to many of us before we saw the 25th Anniversary Concert. Check out Alfie Boe\’s popularity on Facebook and Twitter.He sold out Amazon,com in the US after the PBS showing of the O2 Concert during the month of March.

Becoming a fan of Alfie Boe is instantaneous once you see him and hear his beautiful voice. You will find out more about his story, his love of family, his sense of humor, his smile…..then you are caught in the wonderful world of Alfie Boe. You will buy his CD\’s and DVD\’s. You will watch YouTube until 2 in the morning. You are smitten by Alfie Boe.

Who else could do this? No one but Alfie Boe could play Valjean in the movie.

By: Yet another Les Mis fan

Yet another Les Mis fan — Fri, 13 May 2016 14:49:07 +0000

Do the movie right or not at all. Alfie Boe for Valjean, please. Hugh Jackman as Javert. And I think Marion Cotillard would be a great choice for Fantine. 🙂

By: Ann Warren

Ann Warren — Fri, 13 May 2016 14:49:07 +0000

I don\’t understand why there is any doubt about who should be cast as Jean Val Jean there will never be anyone that can better Alfie Boe\’s performance in a million years!

By: Deborah Keough

Deborah Keough — Fri, 13 May 2016 14:49:07 +0000

I will not support the movie unless Alfie is cast as JVJ. This is a no brainer!!

By: Virginia Gutierrez

Virginia Gutierrez — Fri, 13 May 2016 14:49:07 +0000

Alfie is the right choice! He is gaining popularity and reknown because of his talent and what that brought to the role of Valjean in the 25th anniversary concert. He is only going to enhance the production, no matter if people go because they know his name already, or because they love the story. If they aren\’t familiar with him, they will certainly take notice of him if he is cast! I\’d go to see a movie with him starring just to see the emotion he expresses from the character\’s perspective. My vote is ALFIE!

By: lallen

lallen — Fri, 13 May 2016 14:49:07 +0000

Alfie Boe IS Jean Valjean!!

The debate of casting an unknown with a beautiful voice against casting a known for the Hollywood value reminds me of the early 60\’s. Nobody knew Julie Andrews who had been playing Eliza Doolittle on the stage. When they went to cast the movie version, they went with Audrey Hepburn for the \”star quality\”. Of course…this ended up freeing up the \”unknown\” Julie Andrews for Mary Poppins who then went on to win the Best Actress Oscar. Not to bad for an \”unknown\”.

By: linhiril

linhiril — Fri, 13 May 2016 14:49:07 +0000

Beg pardon: Alfie Boe is no longer \”unknown,\” thanks to PBS. Cast the wrong people in the major roles, and the movie will tank just like the movie of \”Phantom\” did because ALW did not cast Michael Crawford. If these guys want the world-wide ready made audience that they are counting on, frankly, they will have to cast people who are acceptable to the people who make up that audience. \”Those who do not learn from the mistakes of history are condemned to repeat them.\”

By: jkribbit

jkribbit — Fri, 13 May 2016 14:49:07 +0000

Alfie Boe is the only choice for Jean Valjean. The amount of singing – and the level of difficulty – require a trained singer. Alfie Boe has proven his acting chops in the 25th Anniversary Concert as well – and that wasn\’t a staged production – it was a concert! I understand the need to use \”names\” to get backing, but the role of Jean Valjean isn\’t something that you can accept less than the best on. Alfie Boe is definitely the man for the role!

By: Louetta

Louetta — Fri, 13 May 2016 14:49:07 +0000

I have watched all of the Les Miserables movies back to black & white versions. The last version with Liam Neeson, a great actor, was good, but it lacked the passion that Alfie Boe brought to the character! I think Alfie Boe embodies the character and I think he is the only one that should be cast as Val-Jean. He already has a large fan base rooting for him to be casted as Jean-Val-Jean. It would be a mistake not casting him! If they need some other more well known stars, there are a lot of other roles. Alfie Boe is Jean Val-Jean!!

By: Renee

Renee — Fri, 13 May 2016 14:49:07 +0000

I just watched the O2 concert with Alfie. He MUST be cast as Val Jean! I have the 1985 show also with Colm Wilkinson and believe that Alfie is JUST as good as Colm was in the original. Let the movie be made with the BEST performers who already know how to sing the music correctly and not by actors who need coaches and subs to hit the notes cleanly.

By: Pam B

Pam B — Fri, 13 May 2016 14:49:07 +0000

If you\’ve seen the 25th Anniversary Concert, you KNOW that Alfie Boe is the only choice to play Jean Valjean. If you haven\’t, just watch this video and you\’ll see why.

By: Gill

Gill — Fri, 13 May 2016 14:49:07 +0000

Alfie Boe HAS to be Jean Valjean. The man has the looks can act and has a fantastic voice. I agree with a previous comment if he isn\’t cast as Valjean then I\’m not interested in the movie version.

By: Woirld-Traveler

Woirld-Traveler — Fri, 13 May 2016 14:49:07 +0000

Why not cast an unknown in the lead role? Every film actor had to start somewhere. Considering the vocal demands of the role it\’s important to have someone who can sing it, and Alfie Boe proved himself worthy of the role in the O2 Arena on October 3.

By: BuntyHoven

BuntyHoven — Fri, 13 May 2016 14:49:07 +0000

Can\’t see them casting an unknown (to movie audiences) in the lead role.

By: Castor

Castor — Fri, 13 May 2016 14:49:07 +0000

I don\’t get why they have to make this a musical. It would be a totally compelling film without having actors with questionable singing talent. erupt into songs.

By: Karen Golden

Karen Golden — Fri, 13 May 2016 14:49:07 +0000

If Alfie Boe is not cast as ValJean, then I have no interest in the movie version.

I will instead wear out the O2 concert version that I now own.

Sincerely

By: lesmisfan

lesmisfan — Fri, 13 May 2016 14:49:07 +0000

Love Alfie to be Valjean and Benedict Cumberbatch to be Javert

By: Dee Sherrill

Dee Sherrill — Fri, 13 May 2016 14:49:07 +0000

Alfie Boe is the perfect one to be Jean Valijean in the upcoming film. Wilkinson, as shown, in the after show 25th anniversary was not able to hold a candle to Boe's voice. Wilkinson is past his prime. In the final song, with all the Jean Valijeans singing together Boe stole it from all of them due to his better voice. He MUST be chosen for the film.

By: Nancy Patterson

Nancy Patterson — Fri, 13 May 2016 14:49:07 +0000

There is no other choice. Alfie Boe is Valjean!!! If you have Robert Downey Jr or Sean Penn, I won\’t watch, let alone buy the movie!!! I can see Keanu Reeves as Marius.

By: babz

babz — Fri, 13 May 2016 14:49:07 +0000

I won\’t watch if Alfie Boe is not cast as Jean Valjean. That\’s just how I feel. If it\’s going to be done, it must be done properly.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Fri, 13 May 2016 14:49:07 +0000

marion as fantine this might be a dream! terrific choice

By: Andrea Berkelaar Moorhead

Andrea Berkelaar Moorhead — Fri, 13 May 2016 14:49:07 +0000

I\’m not sure which way round to put it – Alfie Boe was born to play this role or this role was created for Alfie Boe…..He owns this role He is convincing as an actor and has an amazing voice Simply the man for the job …no one else can fill his shoes for this role …..

By: Dawn_Razor

Dawn_Razor — Fri, 13 May 2016 14:49:07 +0000

\”Victor Hugo\’s iconic musical\”?! Is that a joke? Because if not it\’s the worst piece of writing I\’ve read for weeks.

By: PB

PB — Fri, 13 May 2016 14:49:07 +0000

We\’re talking integrity here; this is a MAJOR work with a long, credible history which requires credible people to give the work the integrity it not only requires but demands. No offence intended to some of the names suggested, but let\’s get real. It\’s about getting the right people for the job. That means people who can sing as well as act (Les Mis is, after all, a modern-day opera) preferably those who have a proven track record with this work. For that reason having anyone else as Jean Valjean other than Alfie Boe is inconceivable, after the O2 concert in October2010. For the other parts, look to the excellent artists who have taken part or who are doing so now now in the stage production. Let\’s do this right or not at all – getting it even slightly wrong would be in reality to get it seriously wrong and do major damage to the integrity, history and credibility of Les Mis.

By: Karen Corcoran

Karen Corcoran — Fri, 13 May 2016 14:49:07 +0000

Alfie Boe has my vote! After seeing the O2 concert, how could they choose anyone else? I probably won\’t see the movie unless Alfie is cast as JVJ.