Working Title's Eric Fellner Reacts to LES MIS Nominations

Related: LES MISERABLES, Universal, Working Title

Nominations for the 85th Academy Awards were announced this morning by the show's host, Seth MacFarlane, and actress Emma Stone. Academy Awards for outstanding film achievements of 2012 will be presented on Oscar Sunday, February 24, 2013, at the Dolby Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center, and televised live on the ABC Television Network. The Oscar presentation also will be televised live in more than 225 countries worldwide.

The film that theatre fans have been watching out for, LES MISERABLES received 7 nominations including Actor in a Leading Role, Actress in a Supporting Role, Best Picture, Costume Design, Makeup and Hairstyling, Music (Original Song) and Production Design.

Working Title's Eric Fellner reacts to news of the blockbuster's nominations:

"This was one of the hardest films we've done. It's a genre that's challenging by its very nature - people aren't used to going to see a musical in a movie theater. Also, no one has ever done a live musical from beginning to end with no prerecorded music.

We also had to make sure that in adapting Les Miserables, we didn't alienate fans, and having the original team of Claude-Michel Schonberg, Herbie Kretzmer and Cameron Mackintosh, we were able to keep all the original DNA intact. Then, shooting a film with an appetite of 100 million for 60 million was an interesting challenge. I do feel sad for Ben Affleck, Kathryn Bigelow and Tom Hooper, they did a stunning job all three of them and it's a shame they weren't nominated. You have to respect the vote, but it is a shame."