Johnny Depp in Talks For 'Into the Woods'
by Shannon Keirnan
Disney has announced that it will be releasing a film adaptation of the beloved (especially by yours truly) Broadway musical “Into the Woods,” and Johnny Depp is reportedly in talks to come aboard!
The film would mark Depp’s first singing role since 2007, when he starred in Tim Burton’s “Sweeney Todd: The Demon of Barber of Fleet Street.”
Rob Marshall, who directed Disney’s fourth “Pirates of the Caribbean,” is set to direct, so Depp would be in familiar company.
Marshall also has Broadway experience in directing and choreography, and directed the musicals “Chicago,” “Nine,” and 1999’s TV version of “Annie.”
Depp would play the Wolf. Stephen Sondheim’s stage version (who also composed the score for “Sweeney Todd”) calls for the Wolf and Cinderella’s Prince to be played by the same character… will the film version keep this little thematic nod?
Meryl Streep is set to play the role of the witch—a character Bernadette Peters may have ruined for followers with her incredible 1991 performance in the “American Playhouse” version… however, if anyone is up to the challenge, it’s Meryl Streep.
The play is a hilarious and poignant collection of fairy tales, centered on a childless Baker and his wife, who attempt to lift a curse placed on the family by the Witch.
Characters include all the favorites from your childhood, like Little Red Riding Hood, Jack, Rapunzel, and Cinderella.
The screenplay has been penned by James Lapine, whose book inspired the musical version.
If you aren’t familiar with some of the great scores from the Tony award-winning stage version, check out a few below!