Oh Snow White. Last fall she was all the buzz with three different companies eager to spin her classic tale of noble dwarves, evil stepmother and rescuing prince into a newer, edgier narrative. Chief among these revamps was the much-discussed Snow White and the Huntsman, a spec script that was eagerly bought (for a hefty sum) by Universal.
This revisionist take posits that the evil queen’s huntsman doesn’t just feel pity for the pale princess and urge her to flee terrified into the deep dark woods. Instead, he accompanies her (possibly literally bound to her) and proves a burly mentor in her survival. Now Charlize Theron is lined up to play the vain queen who wishes the fair Snow White dead, and Twilight star Kristen Stewart has signed onto play the Snow White with what’s sure to be a lip-biting, hair-flipping vulnerability. It’s just that pesky Huntsman role that’s proved so hard to cast.
First, fresh off his Inception scene-stealing, Tom Hardy was asked to shoulder the lead of the gruff Huntsman. Then it was rumored Universal was courting Johnny Depp to fill the role. Next was Viggo Mortensen, then Hugh Jackman. Now Deadline reports that Universal has leapt from Wolverine to Thor.
As the superhero action flick tears it up overseas, its brawny leading man, Chris Hemsworth, is quick becoming a hot commodity, and Universal knows it. Of course, whose to say Hemsworth will take the role that so many A-listers have already rejected. If Thor takes off as expected, he may be offered bigger (or more badass) projects soon. Plus with Beastly and Red Riding Hood, the first attempts to cash-in on the supposed fairy tale frenzy, failing to cash in at the box office, it may not be in Hemsworth’s best interest to sign on Snow White.
My guess is in a few weeks time this will be yet another role the on fire Jeremy Renner will be offered.
What do you think of Hemsworth as the Huntsman? Do you think the fairy tale fad is already dead?