PEOPLE

‘Idol’ runner-up Lambert to join cast of Fox’s ‘Glee’

Musician gets chance to back up ‘Les Mis’ criticism

Adam Lambert to join cast of 'Glee'.

LOS ANGELES — Adam Lambert, familiar to Fox viewers as an American Idol runner-up, will be returning to the network this fall when he joins the cast of Glee.

Glee creator Ryan Murphy announced the cast addition on Twitter on Wednesday, telling fans, “I am thrilled to announce that the super talented Adam Lambert is joining the cast of Glee this fall.”

Murphy did not indicate whether Lambert would be a series regular or just a guest star for an episode or two. Previously, another American Idol runner-up, Jessica Sanchez, had appeared on the show for a two-episode arc.

Though Lambert started his career in musical theater, notably in the musical version of The Ten Commandments, starring Val Kilmer, this would be his first acting role in film or TV. Which is a bit surprising considering just how theatrical Lambert’s stage persona has always been, even during his Idol run in 2009.

Lambert’s Glee role will also be a chance to back up criticisms he voiced early this year about the actors in the film version of Les Miserables not being professional singers.

On Twitter, he wrote, “Les Mis: Visually impressive w great Emotional performances. But the score suffered massively with great actors PRETENDING to be singers. ...it’s an opera.”

Those comments went viral and Les Miserables star Russell Crowe even responded, defending the decision not to sweeten the vocals.