Into the Woods is a 2014 live-action fantasy musical film, based on the Broadway musical, that was released by Disney on December 25, 2014.
A movie version of Steven Sondheim's legendary musical Into the Woods has been in development at Disney for a year or so. The award-winning Broadway musical epitomized the phrase "fractured fairy tale," as Red Riding Hood, Cinderella, Jack (of the Beanstalk fame) and a childless baker and his wife venture into the woods to have their wishes granted... and discover that real life seldom works like a fairy tale.
In January 2012, it was reported that Rob Marshall had signed on to direct a film adaptation of the musical for Walt Disney Pictures, with James Lapine writing the script and Stephen Sondheim "expected" to write new songs. Dion Beebe, who previously collaborated with Marshall in Chicago, Memoirs of a Geisha, and Nine will serve as cinematographer. Sondheim confirmed that a new song is being written for the film. The film is expected to begin shooting in London September 2013.
Composer David Krane, who collaborated with Marshall on the film versions of Chicago and Nine, recently confirmed with the Litchfield County Times, a local Connecticut newspaper that Meryl Streep would play the evil witch. Johnny Depp will play the Wolf from Little Red Riding Hood. In June 2013, Emily Blunt confirmed that she would be playing the Baker's Wife. Her character is married to Rapunzel's older brother.
Plot[]
From the official press-release:
Into the Woods is a modern twist on the beloved Brothers Grimm fairy tales, intertwining the plots of a few choice stories and exploring the consequences of the characters' wishes and quests. This humorous and heartfelt musical follows the classic tales of Cinderella (Anna Kendrick), Little Red Riding Hood (Lilla Crawford), Jack and the Beanstalk (Daniel Huttlestone), and Rapunzel (MacKenzie Mauzy) - all tied together by an original story involving a baker and his wife (James Corden & Emily Blunt), their wish to begin a family, and their interaction with the witch (Meryl Streep) who has put a curse on them.
Cast[]
- Meryl Streep as the Witch
- James Corden as the Baker
- Emily Blunt as the Baker's Wife
- Johnny Depp as the Wolf
- Anna Kendrick as Cinderella
- Chris Pine as Cinderella's Prince
- Daniel Huttlestone as Jack
- Tracey Ullman as Jack's Mother
- Mackenzie Mauzy as Rapunzel
- Billy Magnussen as Rapunzel's Prince
- Christine Baranski as the Wicked Stepmother
- Tammy Blanchard as Florinda
- Lucy Punch as Lucinda
- Lilla Crawford as Little Red Riding Hood
- Richard Glover as the Steward
- Frances de la Tour as the Giant
- Simon Russell Beale as the Baker's father
- Joanna Riding as Cinderella's mother
- Annette Crosbie as Little Red Riding Hood's grandmother
Production[]
Rob Marshall, the talented filmmaker behind the Academy Award-winning musical "Chicago" and Disney's "Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides," helms the film, which is based on the Tony-winning original musical by James Lapine, who also penned the screenplay, and legendary composer Stephen Sondheim, who provides the music and lyrics - including an all-new song for the big-screen adaptation.
Filming[]
The film began principal photography at London's Shepperton Studios in September 2013, with additional filming taking place at Dover Castle and Waverley Abbey.
Trivia[]
- Sophia Grace Brownlee was originally cast as Little Red Riding Hood, but her parents withdrew from the film after deciding she was too young for the role.[1]
- Jake Gyllenhaal was originally cast as Rapunzel's Prince but departed the film to star in another movie called Nightcrawler.[2]
- In early 2013, the press reported that Allison Janney had been cast as Jack's Mother before Tracey Ullman got the part.[3]
Videos[]
Gallery[]
