Now that drop dead gorgeous Chris Pine has wrapped the upcoming movie version Stephen Sondheim’ hit Broadway musical Into The Woods, in which he plays Cinderella’s Prince. Handsome Chris appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live to promote his latest film Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit and after being sweet talked and goaded by Kimmel sang a few bars of Frank Sinatra’s “Fly Me To The Moon.” that will make your knees weak and wish that when he grabs Jimmy Kimmel’s hand and looks into his eyes and sings that he’d really be holding yours.
Last June it was announced that Director Rob Marshall had made Stephen Sondheim’s INTO THE WOODS a musical which intertwines the plots of several Brothers Grimm fairy tales and follows them to explore the consequences of the characters’ wishes and quests as his next project at Warner Bros/Disney.
Well on Monday a cast reading of the screenplay reading which included in alphabetical order): Nina Arianda as The Baker’s Wife; Christine Baranski as the Stepmother; Tammy Blanchard as Florinda; Victoria Clark as Cinderella’s Mother/Giant; James Corden as the Baker; David Garrison as the Narrator; 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 the Steward/Baker’s Father; Donna Murphy as the Witch; Laura Osnes as Rapunzel; Taylor Trensch as Jack; Casey Whyland as Little Red Riding Hood; and Patrick Wilson as Cinderella’s Prince.
Now while those at the reading ARE NOT officially cast in the movie version as of yet there is a good chance that more than a few will be in the movie (Good Luck Cheyenne!) But the real news is that the website BroadwayWorld.com has learned that screen legend Meryl Streep is in talks to join the film as the Witch, but was unable to make the reading. (We like Mertyl but …. WE WANT BERNADETTE PETERS!)
James Lapine, wrote the original book for INTO THE WOODS, is reworking the script for the screenplay which won several Tony Awards, including Best Score, Best Book, and Best Actress in a Musical (Joanna Gleason), in a year dominated by The Phantom of the Opera.
Stephen Sondheim is expected to contribute some new songs.
INTO THE WOODS which won won several Tony Awards, including Best Score, Best Book, and Best Actress in a Musical (Joanna Gleason), in a year dominated by The Phantom of the Opera.
I’ll admit it. I am a Theatre geek. (After all I do have a degree in Musical Theatre from NYU.) But I have to confess that I am than thrilled about the news that Chicago director Rob Marshall is in line to direct a long-awaited (and in some circles feared) big screen remake of Into the Woods, Stephen Sondheim/James Lapine Tony-winning musical which intertwines the plots of several Brothers Grimm fairy tales and follows them further to explore the consequences of the characters’ wishes and quests
But this isn’t the first production of “Into The Woods” on film and will never be the best.
The original production was taped in May 1989 and was broadcast on U.S. public television on March 20, 1991 1987. (And is available on DVD through Amazon.com) with Bernadette Peters’ performance as the Witch and Joanna Gleason’s portrayal of the Baker’s Wife which brought acclaim to the production during its original Broadway run.
I worry that a big screen remake will lead to big screen stunt casting. Gywnth Paltrow as Cinderella? Meryl Streep as The Baker’s wife? Beyonce as The Witch? Justin Bieber as Jack from Jack in the Beanstalk. Nooooooooooooo!
Do yourself a favor and run on over to Amazon.com and buy or rent the original and see the original Broadway version BEFORE this one is made.
