Jean Valjean or the Unabomber? First "Les Miserables" Set Photos Surface

Musicals generally have this reputation as being light and cheery entertainment (at least if you're into musicals), but anyone who's seen Les Miserables on stage - and more than 60 million people have - can tell you Les Miz was never one of those kind of shows.  It was always quite the tearjerker.  Yet, it was amazing enough that I've seen the stage version nine times and would see it again in a heartbeat.

The movie version of Les Miserables is finally underway, and judging from this rather frightening set photo of Hugh Jackman in full Jean Valjean costume, it looks like they're starting it at the beginning of the story, which opens with Valjean being released on parole after spending 19 years in prison for stealing a loaf of bread:

Yikes.  But that would be what 19 years on a chain gang will do to a person.

And this photo, also courtesy of In Case You Didn't Know, may just look like a yawning old guy to those unfamiliar to the musical, but Les Miz fans would recognize him away as Colm Wilkinson, who played Jean Valjean in the original London and Broadway stage productions (just listen to this if you're still confused).  Wilkinson will be appearing in the film as the Bishop of Digne.

So cool.  I still can't believe they're finally making this into a movie.  Hopefully we'll get some pictures of Russell Crowe as Javert soon too.

Les Miserables is set to open in theaters in December.