Into the Woods (film)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Jedi94 (talk | contribs) at 21:38, 20 July 2014 (Undid revision 617746016 by 76.226.129.167 (talk) Unexplained removal.). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Into the Woods
File:Into The Woods logo.png
Official logo
Directed byRob Marshall
Screenplay byJames Lapine
Produced by
  • Rob Marshall
  • John DeLuca
  • Marc Platt
  • Callum McDougall
Starring
CinematographyDion Beebe
Edited byWyatt Smith
Music byStephen Sondheim
Production
company
Distributed byWalt Disney Studios
Motion Pictures
Release date
  • December 25, 2014 (2014-12-25)
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$40 million[1]

Into the Woods is an upcoming American musical fantasy film produced by Walt Disney Pictures. It is directed by Rob Marshall,[2] adapted by James Lapine and features a ensemble cast including Meryl Streep, Emily Blunt, James Corden, Anna Kendrick, Chris Pine, Johnny Depp, Lilla Crawford, Daniel Huttlestone, Tracey Ullman, Christine Baranski, Mackenzie Mauzy, and Billy Magnussen. Based on the highly acclaimed Tony Award–winning eponymous Broadway musical by Lapine and Stephen Sondheim, the film is a fantasy genre crossover centered on a childless couple, who set out to end a curse placed on them by a vengeful witch.[3] Into the Woods will be released on December 25, 2014[4] and is Disney's first theatrical adaptation of a Broadway musical play.

Plot

Set in an alternate world of various Grimm fairy tales, the film intertwines the plots of several Brothers Grimm fairy tales and follows them to explore the consequences of the characters' wishes and quests. The main characters are taken from "Little Red Riding Hood", "Jack and the Beanstalk", "Rapunzel", and "Cinderella", as well as several others. When a Baker and his Wife learn they've been cursed childless by a Witch, they must embark into the woods to find the objects required to break the spell and begin a family. The film is tied together to the original story of the baker and his wife, their interaction with the Witch who has placed a curse on them, and their interaction with other storybook characters during their journey. What begins a lively irreverent fantasy musical eventually becomes a meaningful tale about responsibility, the problems that come from wishes, and the legacy that we leave our children.

Cast

Additionally, Tammy Blanchard and Lucy Punch were cast as Florinda and Lucinda, Cinderella's stepsisters, respectively,[17] as well as Richard Glover as the Steward, Frances de la Tour as the Giant's Wife, Simon Russell Beale as the Baker's Father, Joanna Riding as Cinderella's Mother, and Annette Crosbie as Little Red Riding Hood's Grandmother.[18]

Production

Development at Columbia

The first attempts of adapting Into the Woods to film occurred in the early 1990s, with a script written by Lowell Ganz and Babaloo Mandel. A reading was held with a cast that included Robin Williams as The Baker, Goldie Hawn as The Baker's Wife, Cher as The Witch, Danny DeVito as The Giant, Steve Martin as The Wolf, and Roseanne Barr as Jack's Mother.[19] By 1991, Columbia Pictures and Jim Henson Productions were also developing a film adaptation with Craig Zadan as producer and Rob Minkoff as director.[20][21] In 1997, Columbia put the film into turnaround, with Minkoff still attached as director, and Billy Crystal, Meg Ryan and Susan Sarandon reportedly in talks to star.[22] After the report by Variety, a film adaptation of Into the Woods remained inactive for 15 years.

Development at Disney

In January 2012, Rob Marshall was hired to direct a new adaptation of the musical for Walt Disney Pictures, with James Lapine writing the script and Stephen Sondheim "expected" to write new songs.[23] Academy Award-winner Dion Beebe, who previously collaborated with Marshall in Chicago, Memoirs of a Geisha, and Nine will serve as cinematographer.[24] Sondheim confirmed that a new song is being written for the film.[25] The Walt Disney Studios confirmed in June 2013, that the film had been commissioned, and scheduled a release date for Christmas Day 2014.[4][26]

With Disney's backing, an updated reading of the screenplay directed by Marshall, took place in October 2012, with Nina Arianda as the Baker's Wife, Victoria Clark as Cinderella's Mother/Granny/Giant, James Corden as the Baker, Donna Murphy as the Witch, Christine Baranski as Cinderella's Stepmother, Tammy Blanchard as Florinda, Ivan Hernandez as the Wolf, Megan Hilty as Lucinda, Cheyenne Jackson as Rapunzel's Prince, Allison Janney as Jack's Mother, Anna Kendrick as Cinderella, Michael McGrath as Steward/Mysterious Man, Laura Osnes as Rapunzel, Taylor Trensch as Jack, Casey Whyland as Little Red Riding Hood, and Patrick Wilson as Cinderella's Prince.[27] Reports subsequently surfaced in January 2013 that Meryl Streep had been cast to play the Witch.[28][29] During that month, it was reported that Janney had been confirmed to join the film as well.[30] Five months later, however, Tracey Ullman was cast as Jack's Mother instead.[13]

Rapunzel's tower under construction at Waverley Abbey in Farnham, Surrey.

In April 2013, Johnny Depp was in final negotiations, along with Streep, to join the film.[5][10] In May, James Corden, who took part in the reading of the screenplay, was in talks to play the role of the Baker.[31] On 10 May, Disney confirmed the casting of Streep, Depp, and Corden as the Witch, the Big Bad Wolf, and the Baker, respectively.[7] That same month, Emily Blunt and Christine Baranski were cast as The Baker's wife and Cinderella's Stepmother, respectively,[6][14][32] whereas Jake Gyllenhaal and Chris Pine entered negotiations to play the Princes.[9] However, Gyllenhaal dropped out of the film due to scheduling conflicts with another film, Nightcrawler and was subsequently replaced by Billy Magnussen.[16][33] One month later, Anna Kendrick began talks to play Cinderella in the film.[8] In July, Mackenzie Mauzy, Tammy Blanchard, Lucy Punch and Daniel Huttlestone joined the cast.[12][15][17] Sophia Grace Brownlee was originally cast as Little Red Riding Hood.[34] Brownlee's casting attracted controversy due to her age and the sexual undertones present between Little Red and the Wolf.[35][36][37] The film's official cast and plot synopsis were revealed at the D23 Expo on August 10, 2013.[38][39] On September 16, 2013, Lilla Crawford was confirmed as playing the character of Little Red Riding Hood, despite previous reports suggesting Brownlee.[11] Later on, Dominic Brownlee spoke about his daughter, Sophia Grace's withdrawal from the movie saying, "After careful consideration, we the parents of Sophia Grace, felt that as rehearsals progressed that she was too young for this part. It was a joint decision between us and the director and producer of Into the Woods to withdraw Sophia Grace from the film."[40] Other castings of Richard Glover, Frances de la Tour, Simon Russell Beale, Joanna Riding and Annette Crosbie were later announced the same day.[18]

Filming

The film began principal photography at London's Shepperton Studios in September 2013, with additional filming taking place at Dover Castle, Waverley Abbey[41][42] and Richmond Park.[43][44] Filming concluded on November 27, 2013.[45] But on July 14, 2014, Steve Baldwin posted on a social networking site that reshoots were made for the whole month of July.[46]

Differences between the film and the Broadway musical

In June 2014, Stephen Sondheim revealed that Disney decided to make some major plot changes to the film in order to make it more family-friendly and he approved them all.[47] He told The New Yorker that in the film the relationship between the wolf and Little Red Riding Hood would not be "sexual", "Rapunzel does not get killed, and the prince does not sleep with the baker's wife." This led to a song in the original musical, "Any Moment", being cut, and a new song was written in replacement of it.[48][49]

Stephen Sondheim was at Sardi's in New York City, New York to discuss with a couple of high school drama teachers about the changes people will expect in the film. When a teacher raised concerns about the relationship between Little Red Riding Hood and the Wolf, citing "infidelity, a wolf being lascivious, that the whole connection with Red Riding Hood is sexual," Sondheim replied, "Well, you'll be happy to know that Disney had the same objections." He added, "You will find in the movie that Rapunzel does not get killed, and the Prince does not sleep with the [Baker's Wife]." Sondheim explained, “You know, if I were a Disney executive I would probably say the same thing. Can you let them read the original and then discuss why, say, Rapunzel is not allowed to die in the adulterated version? We do that, but they just get angry. They feel censored—they don’t feel trusted. And they’re right,” Sondheim said. “But you have to explain to them that censorship is part of our puritanical ethics, and it’s something that they’re going to have to deal with. There has to be a point at which you don’t compromise anymore, but that may mean that you won’t get anyone to sell your painting or perform your musical. You have to deal with reality.”[50]

Another teacher asked if the song "Any Moment", which bookends the encounter between Cinderella's Prince and the Baker's Wife, will remain. "The song is cut," Sondheim said. That revelation upset fans of the original stage show, prompting him to tell the attendees, "I'm sorry. I should say, it's probably cut." Sondheim told fans that he and James Lapine fought for the song's inclusion in the movie. "But Disney said, we don't want Rapunzel to die, so we re-plotted it," the composer explained. "I won't tell you what happens, but we wrote a new song to cover it."[51] Sondheim revealed that the film version will feature two new songs: one called "Rainbows", and another for The Witch.[52]

Sondheim later released a statement, saying that the movie is a faithful adaptation of the musical and "a first-rate movie", the Prince does have an affair with the baker's wife, "Any Moment" is in the film as well, and that all of the reports pertaining to the changes were false.[53][54]

References

  1. ^ Siegel, Tatiana (February 6, 2014). "How Johnny Depp Made $1 Million in a Week". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved February 18, 2014.
  2. ^ Ng, David (September 5, 2013). "Sam Mendes, Rob Marshall will revive their revival of 'Cabaret'". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved September 5, 2013.
  3. ^ Kit, Borys; Tatiana Siegel (May 14, 2013). "Chris Pine, Jake Gyllenhaal Circling Musical 'Into the Woods' (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved September 5, 2013.
  4. ^ a b Schillaci, Sophie; Pamela McClintock (June 13, 2013). "Disney Dates Musical 'Into the Woods' Opposite 'Annie' in December 2014". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved September 5, 2013.
  5. ^ a b Finke, Nikki (April 26, 2013). "Johnny Depp And Meryl Streep "Deals Almost Wrapped" For 'Into The Woods' Movie". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved September 5, 2013.
  6. ^ a b Abramovitch, Seth (May 16, 2013). "Emily Blunt Circling Disney's 'Into the Woods'". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved September 5, 2013.
  7. ^ a b Abramovitch, Seth (May 10, 2013). "Broadway Star Joins Johnny Depp in 'Into the Woods'". Broadway World. Retrieved November 25, 2013.
  8. ^ a b Kit, Borys (June 21, 2013). "Anna Kendrick in Talks to Play Cinderella in Disney's 'Into the Woods'". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved September 5, 2013.
  9. ^ a b Busis, Hillary (May 15, 2013). "Two princes kneel before you: Jake Gyllenhaal, Chris Pine in talks to join 'Into the Woods'". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved September 5, 2013.
  10. ^ a b Siegel, Tatiana; Borys Kit (April 26, 2013). "Johnny Depp to Star in Disney Musical 'Into the Woods'". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved September 5, 2013.
  11. ^ a b "Breaking News: Lilla Crawford Joins INTO THE WOODS Film as 'Little Red'; Stephen Sondheim Pens New Song". Broadway World. September 16, 2013. Retrieved September 16, 2013.
  12. ^ a b Fleming Jr., Mike (June 21, 2013). "Daniel Huttlestone Goes From 'Les Mis' To 'Into The Woods'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved September 5, 2013.
  13. ^ a b Kit, Borys (June 12, 2013). "Tracey Ullman in Talks to Join Disney's 'Into the Woods' (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved September 5, 2013.
  14. ^ a b Sneider, Jeff (May 16, 2013). "'The Good Wife' Star Christine Baranski to Reteam With 'Chicago' Director on Disney's 'Into the Woods' (Exclusive)". The Wrap. Retrieved September 5, 2013.
  15. ^ a b "'Into The Woods' Casts Its Rapunzel". Deadline Hollywood. July 24, 2013. Retrieved September 5, 2013.
  16. ^ a b Fleming Jr., Mike (July 22, 2013). "Billy Magnussen Ventures 'Into The Woods' To Replace Jake Gyllenhaal". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved September 5, 2013.
  17. ^ a b Yamato, Jen (July 23, 2013). "Tony-Nominated Tammy Blanchard Headed 'Into The Woods'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved September 5, 2013.
  18. ^ a b "Production Begins on Disney's Musical INTO THE WOODS Starring Meryl Streep, Emily Blunt, Johnny Depp, Chris Pine, and Anna Kendrick". Collider. September 16, 2013. Retrieved September 16, 2013.
  19. ^ Cerasaro, Pat (November 3, 2010). "BWW EXCLUSIVE: Stephen Sondheim Talks Past, Present & Future". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved September 5, 2013.
  20. ^ Willman, David (July 26, 1992). "Jim Henson's Children Put Together a String of Big Deals to Keep Alive : The Muppet Legacy". The Los Angeles Times. pp. 3 of 3. Retrieved September 5, 2013.
  21. ^ "Movie To Mix Live Actors, Jim Henson Characters". The New York Times. September 30, 1991. Retrieved September 5, 2013.
  22. ^ Fleming, Michael (January 22, 1997). "'Bliss' sticks in ratings mire; Col chops 'Woods'". Variety. Retrieved September 5, 2013.
  23. ^ "Disney Sets Rob Marshall To Direct Adapation Of 'Into The Woods'". Deadline Hollywood. January 11, 2012. Retrieved September 5, 2013.
  24. ^ Giardina, Carolyn (June 7, 2013). "Honors and Hires: Oscar Winning DP Dion Beebe Goes 'Into the Woods'". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved September 5, 2013.
  25. ^ Wolf, Matt (April 5, 2013). "Stephen Sondheim: An audience with a theatre legend". The Independent. Retrieved September 5, 2013.
  26. ^ Rome, Emily (June 13, 2013). "Inside Movies 'Muppets' sequel gets new title, 'Into the Woods' gets release date, and more Disney updates". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved September 5, 2013.
  27. ^ Hetrick, Adam (October 2, 2012). "Nina Arianda, Victoria Clark, Patrick Wilson, Cheyenne Jackson, James Corden Part of Into the Woods Film Reading". Playbill. Retrieved September 5, 2013.
  28. ^ Boughton, Kathryn (January 31, 2013). "Roxbury Composer's Future: New Town, Working with Meryl Streep as a Witch". Litchfield County Times. Retrieved September 5, 2013.
  29. ^ Puchko, Kristy. "Meryl Streep Will Head Into The Woods With Rob Marshall". Cinema Blend. Retrieved February 1, 2013.
  30. ^ Kasperowicz, Leslie. "The West Wing's Allison Janney To Play Anna Faris' Mom In Chuck Lorre's Comedy Pilot". Retrieved January 31, 2013. She was also recently cast in the fairy-tale fantasy movie Into the Woods which is also rumored to have Meryl Streep on board.
  31. ^ Hetrick, Adam (May 3, 2013). "One Man, Two Guvnors Star James Corden in Talks for Into the Woods Film Adaptation". Playbill. Retrieved September 5, 2013.
  32. ^ Vineyard, Jennifer (June 5, 2013). "Emily Blunt to Sing Better in Into the Woods Than She Did in That Karaoke Video". Vulture. Retrieved September 5, 2013.
  33. ^ Snieder, Jeff (July 17, 2013). "Jake Gyllenhaal Exits 'Into the Woods' as 'Nightcrawler' Gets Greenlight (Exclusive)". The Wrap. Retrieved September 5, 2013.
  34. ^ Hetrick, Adam (August 7, 2013). "Updated: YouTube Personality Sophia Grace Brownlee Confirmed for "Into the Woods" Film". Playbill. Retrieved September 5, 2013.
  35. ^ Zuckerman, Esther (August 7, 2013). "Sophia Grace Is Everything That's Wrong with the 'Into The Woods' Movie". The Atlantic Wire. Retrieved September 5, 2013.
  36. ^ Lyons, Margaret (August 8, 2013). "Internet Child Sophia Grace Cast in Into the Woods". Vulture. Retrieved September 5, 2013. Typically Little Red is a bit older than 10, given that the character experiences a sexual awakening — at the menacing and kind of rape-y hands of The (Big Bad) Wolf, who will be played in this incarnation by Johnny Depp. Yes, 50-year-old Johnny Depp is going to sing "Hello, Little Girl" ("Look at that flesh / pink and plump") to Sophia Grace.
  37. ^ Strecker, Erin (August 7, 2013). "Viral video star Sophia Grace Brownlee joins 'Into the Woods' as..." Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved September 5, 2013.
  38. ^ Cerasaro, Pat (August 12, 2013). "Complete Disney INTO THE WOODS Presentation At D23!". Broadway World. Retrieved September 7, 2013.
  39. ^ Graser, Marc (August 10, 2013). "D23 Expo: Disney Shows No Force But Plenty of Films". Variety. Retrieved September 5, 2013.
  40. ^ Sophia Grace INTO THE WOODS Exit Explained; Dad Comments Retrieved September 17, 2013
  41. ^ Verrier, Richard (September 16, 2013). "Disney film 'Into the Woods' begins production in U.K." The Los Angeles Times. Retrieved September 18, 2013.
  42. ^ Cerasaro, Pat (September 6, 2013). "INTO THE WOODS Movie Filming At Dover Castle Soon?". Broadway World. Retrieved September 7, 2013.
  43. ^ "Meryl Streep; Oscar Isaac; Sundance festival; National Trust film locations". The Film Programme. BBC Radio 4. Retrieved February 13, 2014.
  44. ^ "Streep praises 'magical' park". Richmond and Twickenham Times. February 7, 2014.
  45. ^ Cerasaro, Pat (November 28, 2013). "Filming Wraps On INTO THE WOODS Movie! James Corden & More Tweet From Set". Broadway World. Retrieved November 28, 2013.
  46. ^ http://www.broadwayworld.com/article/INTO-THE-WOODS-Movie-Set-For-Month-Of-Reshoots-20140714#.U8ctX_ldWSo
  47. ^ Hetrick, Adam; Gioia, Michael (June 18, 2014). "Sondheim Reveals Plot Changes for Disney Into the Woods Film". Playbill. Retrieved June 19, 2014.
  48. ^ Larrissa, MacFarquhar (June 18, 2014). "Larissa MacFarquhar: A Master Class with Stephen Sondheim". The New Yorker. Condé Nast. Retrieved June 20, 2014.
  49. ^ Ng, David (June 19, 2014). "Stephen Sondheim spills the beans on 'Into the Woods' movie". The Los Angeles Times. Retrieved June 20, 2014.
  50. ^ MacFarquhar, Larissa (June 13, 2014). "A Master Class with Stephen Sondheim". The New Yorker. Retrieved June 19, 2014.
  51. ^ Khatchatourian, Maane (June 18, 2014). "'Into the Woods' to Get Family-Friendly Disney Plot Changes". Variety. Retrieved June 25, 2014.
  52. ^ Johnson, Zack (June 19, 2014). "Disney's Into the Woods Features Major Plot Changes, Stephen Sondheim Reveals—Spoilers Ahead!". E! Online. Retrieved June 19, 2014.
  53. ^ Hetrick, Adam (June 23, 2014). "Sondheim Issues Response Following Report of Disney Into the Woods Film Changes". Playbill. Retrieved June 23, 2014.
  54. ^ Hetrick, Adam (June 23, 2014). "Stephen Sondheim releases statement after backlash over 'Into the Woods' comments". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved June 23, 2014.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Into the Woods (2014 film).
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Into_the_Woods_(film)&oldid=617758883"