It seems like we're almost mandated to accept a casting decision greatly when an actor who has portrayed a particular character in the past gives his approval of another actor's acceptance of the same role in a new medium. If you agree, prepared to say, "I'm behind that," because British comedian/actor/writer Matt Lucas (of Little Britain fame) has just confirmed (quite graciously) that the role of Thénardier in Tom Hooper's film adaptation of Les Miserables will be taken on by one Sacha Baron Cohen.
It's not like a lot of us would be against the idea anyway. Sure, there was a time when Cohen's name was synonymous with his Da Ali G Show characters. But lately, he has given way to new types of roles—in 2007 Cohen co-starred as comic relief in the period musical Sweeney Todd and, most recently, offered a masterful portrayal of the hard-not-to-love antagonist in Martin Scorsese's Hugo. And now, he should be excelling as another comical antagonistic figure, in Les Miserables...which was originally a novel...written by Victor Hugo. That's either a sign, or just a convenient joke. Either way, it's the second comical opportunity of its type to arise since Scorsese's tribute to George Melies came out (click here to read my other, slightly worse Hugo joke!)
I am excited to hear that Cohen is joining the already excessively wonderful team of Hugh Jackman, Anne Hathaway and Russell Crowe. Of course, there are some other majesties in talks to join the film, so the "I'm behind that"s are far from done yet.
Source: Google
