Superstar Russell Crowe will join a host of other Hollywood A-listers in Winchester next week to shoot scenes for film blockbuster Les Misérables.

The city is being transformed into 19th century Paris for the musical drama, which stars the Gladiator actor.

Crowe, whose screen credits also include Master and Commander and A Beautiful Mind, will be filming a night scene in College Street on April 19, but it’s unclear which actors will be joining him.

The film also stars Hugh Jackman, Anne Hath-away, Eddie Redmayne, Amanda Seyfried and Aaron Tveit.

The adaptation of the hit stage musical is being directed by Tom Hooper, who made The King’s Speech starring Colin Firth, who grew up in Winchester.

The Chantry at Winchester College was used for a Les Misérables scene last Friday featuring Hathaway, Red-mayne and Seyfried, said a school spokesman.

She said: “We are very pleased to be able to provide a location for a lovely production. A lot of us have been to the theatre performance.”

Winchester has hosted several high-profile film crews in recent years with the cathedral being used for The Da Vinci Code and Elizabeth.

A city council spokesman said: “Winchester has played host to a variety of movie and TV productions, and we are delighted that the company behind Les Misérables are coming to Winchester to turn some of our streets into 19th century Paris.

“Filming always provides a boost for the city, with fans of the film often coming to see the locations and residents and local people getting excited about having some of Hollywood’s finest in town.”

Next week’s filming will affect streets including College Walk, College Street, St Swithun Street and Symonds Street.

Some street furniture is also being removed and a road closure agreed for College Street for April 19.

One local church to benefit financially is St Swithun-Upon-Kingsgate, which will provide shelter for 25 extras between shoots. The tiny church will be closed to the public on April 19 from early afternoon until about 11pm. A contribution will be made by the film company towards parish funds.

But one local resident, who asked not to be named, was underwhelmed by the news. She said: “Winchester can sell itself without having to be dressed up as Paris.”

The film company will use the St Catherines park and ride, in Bar End, as a base.