Russell Crowe will bump heads with Hugh Jackman in Les Miserables

Russell Crowe is going from Papa Jor-El in Man of Steel to Inspector Javert in Les Miserables. The Oscar winning actor is set to play the arch nemesis of Hugh Jackman's Jean Valjean in the new feature adaptation.

Les Miserables (aka The Miserable Ones) primarily centers on an ex-convict (Jackman) who's struggling to make a life for his family. But after stealing bread to feed his loved ones, he suffers relentless persecution from a police inspector named Javert (Crowe).

Aside from Jackman and Crowe, Les Miserables has plenty of star power behind the scenes. Tom Hooper, who won the Best Director Oscar for The King's Speech will direct from a screenplay adapted by William Nicholson (Gladiator).

According to EW, Sir Cameron MacKintosh, who produced the stage version of Les Miserables, feels that the film will allow both actors to really stretch their creative muscles. He said, "Not only were they born to play these roles vocally, but they thrillingly inhabit this great score."

Les Miserables is scheduled to open Dec. 7, 2012

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