Director says 'Les Miz' won't be in 3D

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LONDON, Dec. 5 (UPI) -- British director Tom Hooper says his big-screen musical version of "Les Miserables" will not be in 3D.

He is to start shooting his adaptation of "Les Miserables" in March. Starring Hugh Jackman, Anne Hathaway, Eddie Redmayne and Russell Crowe, it is set for release next year.

"I can definitely announce it's good old-fashioned 2D," Hooper told the BBC. "I did test 3D and I was very tempted -- I think it is a very interesting new form."

The filmmaker, who directed this year's Oscar-winning "The King's Speech," went on to say he decided against it because he wants the movie to be accessible to all audience members.

"One of the things I'm most proud of with 'The King's Speech' is how it managed to do that, whether you're eight or 80 years old. So I slightly worry with 3D that some people will physically struggle with it. If you have a certain type of eyesight it can be more demanding than watching a normal movie," he told the BBC. "With a 2 1/2-hour film, I didn't want to make something that anyone might think, 'That's not for me, because I don't like the medium.' I wanted to make a film that would touch everyone. I believe the story is so strong, 3D is not essential."