Even Samantha is so surprised with Cameron's announcement but she is definitely more than happy about the news of reprising her role that she played during the Musical's 25th Anniversary Concert.  In fact she is too happy that she tweeted this after the show:  

Samantha is now joining the ensemble that includes Hugh Jackman (Jean Valjean), Anne Hathaway (Fantine), Amanda Seyfried (Cosette), Aaron Tveit (Enjolras), Helena Bonham Carter (Madame Thenardier) and Russell Crowe (Inspecter Javert) to name a few.   This is absolutely the best news I will ever hear today.  Though it is not a guarantee that Swift is out of the movie and may still appear as another character, I'm just relieved that she is out of the role previously immortalized by the great Frances Ruffelle, Lea Salonga and Sutton Foster.  

Sam Barks together with Nick Jonas as Marius in Les Miserables 25th Anniversary Concert

Les Miserables is set to start filming on March and initially announced to be released on December 2012 (or later outside US and UK) from Universal Pictures to be distributed by United International Pictures Philippines through Solar Entertainment.

Here is a clip of Barks performing on my own from the 25th Anniversary concert: