The Black Widow, Scarlett Johansson, wanted to play the role of Fantine in the movie adaptation of the musical based on the novel by Victor Hugo. She went to the audition, but got sick with laryngitis, which removed her from the list of candidates for the role. “And I think looking at the film now, there’s no possible way I ever could have topped that performance by Anne Hathaway,” the actress said. “It was perfect and I think fateful and meant to be. ”