I like Johnny and I KNOW he can play the Baker, but like others have said, he's going to have to resist the urge to pull out his usual bag of tricks and play it straight.
I REALLY hope it's for the Mysterious Man and/or Narrator.
He is NOT right for the Baker but I fear with Rob Marshall at the helm and the idiocy he has previously displayed in casting, he will try to squeeze Johnny Depp into a part that doesn't suit him.
When I read this headline I immediately thought of the Mysterious Man. I agree that the immediate image of Depp as the Baker does not work, but I also understand those that think he could do a good job. I'm just hoping that they cast this film right...
There's no real leading role in Into the Woods. Even the Baker and Baker's Wife fit more as Featured. It's an ensemble piece. True, the Baker and Baker's Wife are the two that hold the story together and without them there would be no major narrative thrust, but they still function as part of the ensemble cast.
I don't want Into the Woods to suddenly be all about the Narrator with six added scenes and four added songs.
True but, correct me if I'm wrong; isn't "Alice" now public domain? Burton could basically do what he wanted without having anyone to answer to as far as the Carroll estate is concerned.
Sondheim may love Depp but I doubt he'd compromise his work just for casting's sake. But, I could be wrong.
I will agree, however, that I can't see Depp and Witherspoon having much chemistry. If this casting proves true, I hope they prove otherwise.
"I love talking about nothing. It is the only thing I know anything about." - Oscar Wilde
Kad, these are just rumors but, from what I heard, they may be trying to skew a bit younger with the princes (depending on who winds up at Cinderella/Rapunzel).
Take this with a grain of salt but, I've heard whispers of them approaching "Robert Pattinson-types."
Not sure how that might fly.
"I love talking about nothing. It is the only thing I know anything about." - Oscar Wilde
I think he is actually perfect for the Baker. Remember that it is The Baker's Story being told by the Baker's Father(with a little intervention when needed)...and The Baker continues this cycle with his own son at the musical's finale. Depp has proved he is a wonderful father figure(for whom The Bakers serves with Jack and Red) and story teller in What's Eating Gilbert Grape and Neverland. If the film follows the rules of the original, then I believe that Depp should play the Role of the Baker.
I agree with others, he doesn't seem like the obvious choice for the Baker IF that's what they are eying him for. But he is capable of it. It all seems to have got lost amongst Jack Sparrow, the Mad Hatter and now Tonto, and he's always leaned towards the quirky, but as someone mentioned, you only have to look at Finding Neverland and some of his earlier work, Chocolat, The Man Who Cried, even something like Benny & Joon or Dead Man to know that he can do the quiet roles too. He seems to be lining up quite a few projects at the moment though, and there are plans to turn the Lone Rnager into a franchise if it goes well, so I guess we'll see. I'm not against it though.
What's with all the lack of enthusiasm? I thought Depp was terrific in Sweeney Todd, reviews for his performance were very good, even NYTimes opera critic loved him in it (linked), he was nominated for an Oscar for it. He's still the biggest movie star in the world I think, what's the problem? Someone suggested Jude Law instead without any idea of whether he could sing??? Depp can sing Sondheim, he's not going to butcher it, he can be a great actor, this movie will get 12 times the interest it would otherwise, it will probably get a bigger budget which will help it to do better, if it does the box office a lot of his movies do it will surely improve the chances of other movie musicals being made. It's all good!!!
Sometimes I think people like to complain about the Depp/Burton pairings, I mean literally they like to complain about them, it's like a trendy thing to say, but I'd rather see any new or old Depp/Burton genial, imaginative, not grisly movie than 98% of the schlock that opens each weekend. (But they can hold the Helena Bonham Carter casting) And while POTC is kind of a marketing machine still I like his Jack. Surprised at the lack of enthusiasm. An Actor Whose Approach to Singing Lets the Words Take Center Stage
Butters, go buy World of Warcraft, install it on your computer, and join the online sensation before we all murder you.
--Cartman: South Park
ATTENTION FANS: I will be played by James Barbour in the upcoming musical, "BroadwayWorld: The Musical."