Hugh Jackman is gearing up to revive his song-and-dance routine in epic fashion, as thesp is in talks for a lead role in “Les Miserables,” which Tom Hooper is on board to direct for Universal, Variety's Justin Kroll exclusively reports. Jackman would play one of two male leads, though it wasn’t immediately clear whether he’d be Jean Valjean, the intrepid protagonist on the run, or Javert, the police inspector who pursues him. If he closes a deal, Jackman would be the first thesp to officially board the pic. With Jackman and Hooper attached, project has significant pedigree -- but then so did the 1998 bigscreen version, which starred Liam Neeson, Geoffrey Rush and Uma Thurman, and managed only $14 million at the domestic box office. Jackman is a natural fit for “Les Mis,” given the Aussie's Broadway chops; he won high marks for hosting the Tonys, starred on the Broadway musical “The Man From Oz,” and brought a showman’s flair to his hosting turn at the Oscars, where he sang "On My Own" -- a "Les Miserables" ditty, no less -- with Anne Hathaway.
