Posted Wed Feb 13, 2013 at 01:00 PM PST by Tom Landy
The acclaimed 2012 adaptation of the classic Victor Hugo story will be available on Blu-ray next month.
In an early announcement to retailers, Universal is readying 'Les Misérables' for Blu-ray on March 22.
The sweeping and spectacular musical extravaganza 'Les Misérables' has been seen by more than 60 million people in 42 countries around the globe. Now the motion picture adaptation that grossed more than $340 million worldwide arrives on Blu-ray™. Critically acclaimed and star-studded, 'Les Misérables' is a stunningly realized interpretation of Victor Hugo’s epic tale of broken dreams, passion, sacrifice and redemption – a timeless testament to the endurance of the human spirit.
Directed by Academy Award® winner Tom Hooper ('The King’s Speech'), 'Les Misérables' features an all-star cast including Golden Globe® winner Hugh Jackman ('X-Men Origins: Wolverine,' 'The Prestige'), Oscar® winner Russell Crowe ('Gladiator,' 'A Beautiful Mind'), Golden Globe® winner Anne Hathaway ('The Dark Knight Rises,' 'The Devil Wears Prada'), Amanda Seyfried ('Mamma Mia!,' 'Dear John'), Eddie Redmayne ('My Week With Marilyn,' 'The Other Boleyn Girl'), Helena Bonham Carter ('Harry Potter' series, 'Sweeney Todd'), Golden Globe® winner Sacha Baron Cohen ('Hugo,' 'Borat') and newcomer Samantha Barks.
Compelling and poignant, 'Les Misérables' has earned kudos from critics around the world, including Vogue’s Adam Green, who describes it as “a spectacular achievement” and Deadline.com’s Pete Hammond, who calls it “remarkably entertaining and powerful” and praises its “stunning imagery and performance.” 'Les Misérables' dominated the 2013 awards season, garnering eight Academy Award® nominations, including Best Picture, Best Actor and Best Supporting Actress, and sweeping the Golden Globes with awards for Jackman, and Hathaway, as well as the prize for Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy.
The Blu-ray/DVD/Ultraviolet Digital Copy combo pack will feature 1080p video, a DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 soundtrack, and supplements include:
Les Misérables Singing Live: The star-studded cast and production team discuss how the daunting challenge of singing live rather than lip-syncing to pre-recorded tracks ultimately gave them the creative freedom to deliver nuanced, emotionally powerful performances. (Blu-ray Exclusive)
Battle at the Barricade: Director Tom Hooper wanted the dramatic building of the barricade to be as visceral and intense as possible, so he had his actors build it in real time, literally hurling furniture out of windows to construct an actual barricade. This featurette takes an in-depth look at the creation and filming of all the action on this remarkable set. (Blu-ray Exclusive)
The West End Connection: Meet the "godfather" of the original stage production of Les Misérables, renowned West End producer Cameron Mackintosh, who was deeply involved in the filming, as well as former Les Misérables, theatrical stars who were thrilled to appear in supporting roles in the current film. (Blu-ray Exclusive)
Les Misérables on Location: Filming rather than staging Les Misérables presents the opportunity to shoot in real world locations: a massive dry dock on the coast of England, a beautiful underground chapel in the heart of London and the ancient city of Winchester. Members of the cast and crew talk about what it was like to find and work in these incredible locations. (Blu-ray Exclusive)
The Stars of Les Misérables: Director Tom Hooper talks about casting the iconic characters, and the actors discuss why it was important to them to be a part of this groundbreaking version of Les Misérables.
Creating the Perfect Paris: Production designer Eve Stewart created a massive Paris set featuring real cobblestones and running water. Take an intricate look into the detailed recreation of these Paris streets that no longer exist in today's world.
The Original Masterwork: Victor Hugo's Les Misérables: This mini-documentary takes a look at the historical backdrop and universal themes of Hugo's classic, and how the filmmakers mined the novel to enrich the look and feel of the film.
Feature Commentary with Director Tom Hooper.
Suggested list price for the Blu-ray is $34.98.
You can find the latest specs for 'Les Misérables' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under March 22.
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