Aracely Arambula will return to Telemundo in 2014 with another telenovela based on a classic work of literature. Telemundo announced on Monday that the Mexican superstar will play the lead role in an adaptation of Victor Hugo's "Les Miserables."
The adaptation marks the first Spanish-language telenovela version of the classic work, which was recently adapted into the Academy Award-winning musical directed by Thomas Hooper.
"We are very proud of this project, which is another brilliant production that will carry our brand, and we anticipate it will have excellent results," said Marcos Santana, President of Telemundo Internacional in a statement. "Telemundo is the only Spanish-language company that leads in this type of melodrama-genre offer for international markets."
Arambula is coming off a resounding success with "La Patrona," a telenovela based off the famous Alexandre Dumas work "The Count of Monte Cristo."
"Les Miserables" will be adapted by Venezuelan scribe Valentina Parraga; she was also the writer behind "La Patrona," which ranked as Telemundo's top 9 p.m. telenovela ever. Parraga was also in charge of adapting Telemundo's greatest hit "La Reina del Sur," which was based on the book by Arturo Perez-Reverte.
The press release notes that like "La Patrona," this adaptation will take place in modern day Mexico and will also switch the main protagonist from being a male to a female. In "La Patrona," Edmund Dantes of "The Count of Monte Cristo" became Gabriela Suarez; it seems that Jean Valjean will also be transformed into a woman trying to prove her innocence while on the run from a vengeful pursuer.