'Les Miserables' Movie: Taylor Swift As Eponine, Amanda Seyfried As Cosette

From heartbreak to Hugo: Taylor Swift is growing up.

The country star has been offered the role of Eponine in the star-studded upcoming film adaptation of the musical "Les Miserables," TwitchFilm first reported and BroadwayWorld.com confirms. Amanda Seyfried, the sites report, has been offered the role of Cosette.

If a rumor first reported by the NY Post in late November is true, Swift's casting represents not only a major step in her acting career but also a major and perhaps unexpected victory over a number of star actresses vying for the part in the Tom Hooper-directed film. The Post reported that Scarlett Johansson, Lea Michele and Evan Rachel Wood were all auditioning for the role as the daughter of the Mr. and Mrs. Thernardier, who will be played by Helena Bonham Carter and Sacha Baron Cohen. To date, Swift's acting has largely been confined to music videos, a part in "Valentine's Day," a guest spot on "CSI" and upcoming voice acting in "The Lorax."

Seyfried, who is classically trained as an opera singer and appeared in the film musical "Mamma Mia!," also has an interesting challenge ahead of her: she will be portraying the daughter of Fantine, who is to be played Anne Hathaway.

The stars round out a cast that also features Hugh Jackman in the lead role of Jean Valjean and Russell Crowe as Inspector Javert. Eddie Redmayne, who was seen this fall opposite Michelle Williams in "My Week With Marilyn," has been cast as Marius, which given the casting of Swift and Seyfried, continues his streak of epic good luck.

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Comments

[Lindstr7]

03:08 AM on 02/19/2012

Ahh, not sure why this article is even on this page. Taylor Swift was famously dumped for the role because she wasn't a strong enough singer to handle the role of Eponine. The role was given to Samantha Barks.

[Christianovich]

03:31 PM on 01/29/2012

i bet swifts character will complain about not finding love the whole movie.

[kmd0113]

11:39 AM on 01/27/2012

Ugh Taylor better not mess up this role. She isn't that bad of a singer, but her whole look is cutesy and girly. Eponine is strong and nothing like Taylor. I grew up listening to Les Mis and Eponine was always my fav. Who knows maybe she will blow us all away... or maybe we will get another performance like in Valentines Day.

[Alyssa Mayne]

02:11 PM on 01/20/2012

Are you kidding me??? Taylor Swift can only sing country! "On My Own" is a seriously powerful song. She can't sing with power. She can't belt and hit the note right on and have vibrato. Plus, she's an alto and can barely hit higher notes. Watch this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2jYomEJOSoo&feature=player_embedded This is her singing "Tonight" from West Side Story as an MTV commercial. Worst rendition I have ever heard. I really hope they re-cast her part.

[lafayette2009]

08:49 PM on 01/22/2012

Just listened to "On My Own" from the original London cast of Les Miserables and then Taylor Swift singing Safe & Sound from "The Hunger Games" and can only assume that she did a good job when she auditioned for the part.

[Krysten Amanda]

01:28 PM on 01/19/2012

You guy's need to remember that she beat the others out which most likely means that Taylor really does have some incredible talent that none of us know about. If she beat out Lea, she has my vote.

[DD08]

10:20 PM on 01/17/2012

What the hell!?

I LOVE Taylor, but she's not even the right type for Eponine! First of all Eponine is a belter, Taylor is a soprano. And Eponine is a leading lady, not an ingenue.

When I read she was being considered for Les Mes I thought they meant as Cossette! I'd love to see her as Cossette, (though I'm happier to see Amanda Seyfried in that role).

And Anne Hathaway as Fantine!? LMAO! When has she ever played anyone's mother!? Fantine is a fiercely strong mother figure who I cannot see being potrayed by Anne Hathaway (who I do love by the way).

And who's this Eddie Redmayne!? Nothing wrong with the gays, but he even LOOKS way too feminine for the role!

This casting is a bad joke.

[fifilov1]

02:09 PM on 01/16/2012

What in the WORLD is wrong with casting directors nowadays?! Seriously....this is a disgrace to Les Mis and Broadway. This really pisses me of as a musical theatre actress and knowing other actresses who are far more talented. Amanda Seyfried not so much but TSwift? She can't sing without that autotune crap and all the studio edits, let alone ACT.

[mjmstar7]

10:09 AM on 01/16/2012

Not Feeling Taylor Swift as Eponine. She sings too sweet for that role. Need more of a rock star someone with an edge for that role. Someone like Avril Lavigne.

[Julia Guettler]

02:30 PM on 01/22/2012

AHHAHHA Avril Lavigne...a rock STAR?! ahhahah

[lafayette2009]

08:35 PM on 01/22/2012

You are joking - right? Avril Lavigne is not a rock star.

[altogirl7]

10:13 PM on 01/15/2012

I LOVE les mis. When I was younger it was one of my favorite musicals. I would beg my mom to let me watch our recording of the 10th anniversary concert. I'm not a huge fan of Taylor Swift, but if it's on the radio, I won't change the station. I'm willing to give her the benefit of the dought (did i spell that right?) that maybe with enough vocal training she might be able to pull it off, but I really DO NOT want her to be in it!!!!!!! All of her music is a. country and b. about any sort of relationship she's had. Les Mis is a wonderful musical and if they have to make a movie out of it, they could choose someone better. And while I'm on the subject of better people, all of the stars that have been casted are A-listers that I'm not even sure if some of them can sing. I'm positive that if the cast wasn't A-listers, people would still go to see the movie.

[kpacocoa]

06:07 PM on 01/15/2012

i think we can all agree that Taylor is one kind hearted, super cool, sweet young lady and is absolutley gorgeous and has a great voice and i'm super happy for her that her acting career is getting bigger and bigger HOWEVER, you guys have to realize that "Les Miserables" is a story that people take super seriously. It's like Romeo and Juliet. People are passionate about this piece. and for Taylor Swift- an amazing young lady who writes and sings about love stories and heartbreaks and appears on movies like "Valentines Day" and "The Lorax"- i don't think this role would suit her. I think we need an actor who been in serious roles and has already established a serious reputation. well good luck Taylor and i seriously hope for the best. and to the taylor swift fans COME ON. just because we are saying "the role doesn't suit her" or "i think so and so should get it" doesn't mean we are jealous. we are just expressing our opinions. DEAL WITH IT.
you guys gotta respect this masterpiece and the reality that a lot of people take this serious. come on. i'm 13 and even I know that.

[NOTHINGxx]

01:33 AM on 01/15/2012

I love Taylor Swift but...SERIOUSLY?!
Halfway through she'll probably get frustrated and just bust out her guitar and sing "You Belong With Me" instead.Okay,take Justine Bieber as Marius as well -.- I'm REALLY GLAD that Helena Bonham Carter will be Mrs.Thenardier, at least I have a reason to watch this...But, I'm gonna give Swift the benefit of the doubt...

[Morganalefey]

02:25 PM on 01/14/2012

I can't see Taylor Swift as Eponine nor Anne Hathway as Fantine. I can see Hathway as Eponine maybe even Cosette. I look forward to seeing Carter as Mm. Thernardier. I love this musical and I played Eponine on Broadway.

[leedc]

03:57 PM on 01/11/2012

While Taylor Swift does have a solid following and great voice for the country scene, I don't see her as a good fit for this role. Each person is of course entitled to their own opinion, but I can't imagine she will be able to live up to the challenging songs and acting required for the part. I will still see this in theaters, but will be pleasantly surprised if it ends up the same caliber performance as the Broadway production I recently had the pleasure of attending.

[Lauren Pluta]

01:26 PM on 01/09/2012

This gives new meaning to "miserables".

[swiftsongs]

09:20 AM on 01/09/2012

you guys need to get a frikin life all u stupid hater its not like your going to watch it anyway so stop talking crap and i know people always says you cant do any better but im pretty sure you cant because your not famous for singing but she is! and if shes not that good why does she have so many fans you haters need to get a life and stop judging her if you wanna know whats lame LOOK IN THE MIRROR!!!! and youll see crystal clear that it you!!!!

[Tyrella Banks]

12:36 PM on 01/11/2012

Your a prime example why kids should not drop out of school.. You can not write nor put a sentence together!! ... No wonder you're a Swiftie!!

[franko12]

01:50 PM on 01/11/2012

I like swiftsongs this person has completely hit the nail on the head Tyrella!!! You should heed this advice!!! You might actually wake up from your jealousy nightmare.

[Beth Gebelein]

01:42 PM on 01/15/2012

You're. Not Your okay don't talk to her about talking right.

[Morganalefey]

02:25 PM on 01/14/2012

Well your language does require censoring, I agree with your point of Swift's talent, but she fails to meet the bar that has been set for Eponine. I myself played Eponine on Broadway.