The first trailer has been released for the latest film adaptation of Les Misérables.

Best known as one of the longest running musicals in the world, Les Misérables is based on a 19th century Victor Hugo novel. The story concerns ex-slave Jean Valjean (Hugh Jackman), who is hunted by a policeman (Russel Crowe) and sees his life change direction when he agrees to care for the child of a factory worker (Anne Hathaway).

This is the second attempt to transform the musical to film, after the well-received 1998 version starring Liam Neeson and Uma Thurman.

As the trailer proves, all of the cast will perform their own singing. This will come easily to Jackman, who has worked as a dancer and singer in musicals like Oklahoma!, and Crowe, who used to have his own band, 30 Odd Foot of Grunts.

Hathaway shows off an impressive set of lungs in the clip, performing the famous song I Dreamed a Dream. Far from being an amateur, Hathaway performed with the All Eastern US High School Honours Chorus between 1998 and 1999.

Tom Hooper, who swept the Oscars with The King's Speech, directed the new adaptation and looks keen to continue his run of success with a suitably lavish production.

Les Misérables is due to be released in January 2013.