It’s been almost 12 years since the release of “Les Misérables,” Tom Hooper’s adaptation of the hit musical and a triumphant follow-up to the director’s 2010 Oscars-dominating smash hit “The King’s Speech.” It was a film that earned more than $442 million globally and saw Anne Hathaway famously declare “it came true” after winning the Academy Award for best supporting actress.

It’s also been almost five years since Hooper’s most recent feature, “Cats,” an expensive adaptation of another hit musical that didn’t quite land with the same splash.

But as a remastered “Les Misérables” heads back to U.K. cinemas in time for Valentine’s Day (in the U.S. it’s scheduled for Feb. 23), Hooper hints to Variety that he’s ready to return to feature filmmaking, with several projects nearing.

“I’m certainly quite close on a couple of things,” he explains. “I’ve been busy.