Universal Studios Home Entertainment has revealed plans to release the Blu-ray and DVD versions of the Academy Award nominated film Les Miserables on Friday, March 22.
Les Miserables is directed by Tom Hooper and stars Anne Hathaway, Hugh Jackman, Russell Crowe and Amanda Seyfried. It is nominated for eight Academy Awards including Best Picture, Best Actor in a Leading Role for Hugh Jackman, and Best Actress in a Leading Role for Anne Hathaway, who is widely expected to take home the Oscar.
The Blu-ray and DVD combo pack for Les Miserables will be presented in 1.85:1 1080p video and 7.1 DTS-HD Master Audio, giving those live singing performances a couple extra channels to work with. Bonus features are extensive as outlined below:
- Blu-ray Exclusive: Les Miserables 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 Miserables, renowned West End producer Cameron Mackintosh, who was deeply involved in the filming, as well as former Les Miserables, theatrical stars who were thrilled to appear in supporting roles in the current film.
- Blu-ray Exclusive: Les Miserables on Location: Filming rather than staging Les Miserables 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.
- 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 Miserables: 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
The Stars of Les Miserables: 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 Miserables.
Click here to pre-order Les Miserables on Blu-ray and DVD combo for a discounted price at Amazon.com. View the cover art as well as a featurette clip from the upcoming release below.
