Universal Studios has officially announced and detailed the March 22, 2013 DVD and Blu-ray release of director Tom Hooper’s Les Misérables (2012). Nominated for eight Academy Awards, the adaptation of Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schönberg’s musical of the same name stars Hugh Jackman, Anne Hathaway and Russell Crowe.
The Blu-ray edition of Les Misérables will feature 1080p video, a DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 surround track, standard DVD and UltraViolet digital copies of the film.
Bonus Features Exclusive to the Blu-ray:
- Les Misérables Singing Live: The cast and production team discuss how singing live rather than lip-syncing to pre-recorded tracks gave them the creative freedom to deliver nuanced, emotionally powerful performances.
- 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, 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 the set.
- 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 film.
- 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.
Bonus Features on Both the Blu-ray and DVD Editions:
- 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
