After trying his hand in summer blockbuster territory with Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, director Rob Marshall is getting back to what he knows best: the musical genre. The Oscar-winning Chicago helmer is lining up his next project, a feature adaptation of Stephen Sondheim’s hit Broadway musical Into the Woods. While it’s been in the development phase for some time, it looks like things are moving forward as the first confirmed cast member has popped up.
Last fall we got news of a vast list of actors that showed up for a table read of the screenplay, including Anna Kendrick, Patrick Wilson, Allison Janney and more, but the one person rumored for the cast that never showed up has officially been confirmed for the gig. Speaking with Litchfield County Times, composer David Krane (who is doing the arrangements for this film) confirmed that Meryl Streep will be taking the role of The Witch, marking the first time they worked together since 1977’s Happy End. Krane also worked with Marshall on both Chicago and Nine.
For those not familiar, the musical interweaves fairytale stories and characters, including Cinderella and Little Red Riding Hood and Jack (and the Beanstalk), in a narrative involving four wishes and the lengths to which these magical cares will do to make them come true. The feature adaptation is set to come from original author James Lapine and iclude a few new songs from Sondheim.
Are you looking forward to Streep taking on the role of The Witch?