CAST Into the Woods Movie- Page 4

[random person 112]

Posted: 1/12/12 at 3:42pm

I would also like to repeat that while everyone is talking about how toned down it will be this mit be just what disney wants, to change their image and show they can do just what competitor Dreamworks is doing and do it better. In short Disney will profit more the less they change. This is the kind of film that with some work is oscar ready and while give disney possibly more 'industry creed' for pulling off. Also less G-rated material the more names we'll likely get. Toni Collete or Kate Winslet will not sign on to do a fluffy G kids movie, they would sign on to do a serious sondheim movie adapation. As for changing the keys, i know i'm a crazy pruist on this, but emotions and characteristics get lost with a key change. Look at Madonnas evita compared to Pattis, madonna plays her like a ****ing saint, while patti and elena roger embraced the good AND Bad. Part of what madonnas potrayal sugary was that the notes were closer to a more pretty and light soprano, so she sounded more like julie andrews than patti lupone. Rant done.

[finebydesign]

Posted: 1/12/12 at 3:44pm

If they can get Bieber for Jack they will. Can you imagine the box office? Whoever mentioned that is spot on.

Red will probably be Selena Gomez or whichever flavor-of-the-month is on Disney channel.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 1/12/12 at 3:46pm

The key of songs in movie musicals is usually changed not because of the range of the singers singing them, but because its long been believed that (in particular women's songs) need to be placed in more 'conversational' keys to allow film audiences to better understand the lyrics.

I agree that the music in EVITA loses a lot of its power in less dramatic keys, but I don't think changing the keys of the music in INTO THE WOODS would really impact the power of the music.

[ljay889]

Posted: 1/12/12 at 3:49pm

but I don't think changing the keys of the music in INTO THE WOODS would really impact the power of the music.

I agree. The transposed Vanessa Williams keys sound just fine. I actually think the lower LAST MIDNIGHT gives the song an eerier and more effective feel.

Also, Sondheim will be involved with casting. I highly doubt that he'd cast Justin Bieber and Selena Gomez. Disney or not, I don't see it happening.

Updated On: 1/12/12 at 03:49 PM

[random person 112]

Posted: 1/12/12 at 3:52pm

Yes and for some parts it is fine but, in Into the wood, besides the witch if needed, should be transposed? Most of the pacing is very conversational, (Its sondheim for petes sake.) that's a non issue here, so i don't get why it's being brought up.

[artscallion]

Posted: 1/12/12 at 3:55pm

The thing that I would expect Disney to have problems with, more so than edginess or sexuality, would be the fact that 9 characters die...3 minor, 4 featured and 2 star. And of those 9 only 3 could be arguably called "villains". I know Disney has dealt with slightly darker themes, and deaths (Bambi's mother for one), but have they really had any films where main characters the audience has grown attached to (Bakers Wife for one) have died, especially on this scale?

[smartpenguin78]

Posted: 1/12/12 at 3:57pm

I have absolutely no idea what you are saying random person...

I just think they are unlikely to think "who can sing this?" before they think "who can sell this?" they will try to get the best singers for each role, but only after they get an idea of who they want to cast, because that is very much the direction that big budget movies do it.
Any technical discussion of key change and when and why that is done is entirely lost on me, I leave it to you with more music knowledge to debate the specifics. :)

[ljay889]

Posted: 1/12/12 at 3:58pm

^ artscallion, I have the same concerns. But the Disney fans believe Disney is capable of producing dark material. So I'm hopeful.

Updated On: 1/12/12 at 03:58 PM

[random person 112]

Posted: 1/12/12 at 3:59pm

i repeat, Disney could very well want to shake up their image and keep their relevance especially next to Dreamworks, what better way than into the woods, you beat the other studio at something they love to do (revionist fairytales) and deal with dark interesting adult themed stuff. Its a business move and as long as they allow Rob and Sondheim to work it'll be great.

[finebydesign]

Posted: 1/12/12 at 4:04pm

I have a feeling the deaths wont even happen. The Giant could just kidnap them and they go save them.

[Mrs Mangel]

Posted: 1/12/12 at 4:09pm

Has anyone suggested the Landers sisters yet?

[finebydesign]

Posted: 1/12/12 at 4:11pm

Oh Zac Efron as Jack and Nicki Blonsky as Red!!!

[darquegk]

Posted: 1/12/12 at 4:17pm

One word. Mufasa.

Mufasa's brutal on-camera death, lingering shots of his corpse, and then Simba being taunted REPEATEDLY with Scar attempting to traumatize him reminding him of the death of his father. "I... killed... MUFASA!"

If Disney, in one of its most beloved AND kid-friendly films, will go that "real" with a main character's death, Into The Woods is nothing.

[best12bars]

Posted: 1/12/12 at 4:17pm

There is nothing the script of SWEENEY TODD that says Tobias is a child.

Okay, MB, you're way off here. Let's start with the basics ... "Oh, what a sweet child it is," says Mrs. Lovett to Tobias in the original play. They constantly refer to him as a motherless child, an innocent boy, etc. He is a boy.

Tobias is a child in the original Sweeney Todd legend as well, going back 200 years. In fact, he was almost always played by an actual child or depicted that way in illustrations until the Sondheim version which STILL refers to him as a child or a boy throughout the story.

This is just like casting 40-year-olds as Hansel and Gretel in operas. Or Peter Pan. Fine for the stage, but you'd never get away with it on film.

Updated On: 1/12/12 at 04:17 PM

[HouGuy77002]

Posted: 1/12/12 at 4:19pm

I would imagine that casting for The Wolf will depend on if the wolf will be an actual actor dressed up like a wolf...or if he will be a CGI wolf with a voice over. What do you guys think...Live actor vs. CGI?

What about Jake Gyllenhaal as the Baker or maybe Cinderella's Prince?

[best12bars]

Posted: 1/12/12 at 4:22pm

I'll bet the Wolf is CGI.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 1/12/12 at 4:28pm

Best12, we just view these things totally differently. You think if they refer to a character as a 'child' that he must be so. I maintain if the creative team saw these characters as literal children they would have cast children in the original (or even the revival) productions.

It hardly matters of course, but I would be very surprised if Jack and Red Riding Hood were cast with actors younger than 14 or 15.

[best12bars]

Posted: 1/12/12 at 4:30pm

I would expect Little Red to be cast as 14 or 15, but not younger.

But not older, either. 14 or 15 is young enough for the part, but old enough to handle the material's complexity (from the humor to the music).

Cinderella, late teens. 20 at the most. The princes in their mid-20s.

Jack about 18-20.

Updated On: 1/12/12 at 04:30 PM

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 1/12/12 at 4:34pm

Whatever age you cast them, I do think Cinderella needs to read as older than Jack and Red. If you had Justin Bieber as Jack, you'd need an Anne Hathaway or Jessica Chastain to be Cinderella.

[best12bars]

Posted: 1/12/12 at 4:40pm

Yes, Cinderella needs to be older than Jack. She adopts a "mother figure" role at the end. Jack can be a "simple" boy of 17 or 18. She can be a mature 20-22. Not much difference in years, but in maturity (at least at the end of the story), definitely. But there are a few times early on, where Cinderella seems almost like one of the "kids." She also matures the most (arguably) during the events. It's a nice character development.

And even with the satirical elements, I really hope they don't either turn it into broad slapstick or "cute" it up with a bunch of Disney-channel humor and attitude. That's why I hope Bieber and Zac Efron stay FAR away from this.

That makes me cringe at the thought!

[best12bars]

Posted: 1/12/12 at 4:44pm

As far as deaths, they had a major character die in the Frog Princess, too. The firefly.

[bwayfan7000]

Posted: 1/12/12 at 4:46pm

Say what you want about Rob Marshall's movie musicals, but they are certainly well-cast.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 1/12/12 at 4:50pm

I don't think Efron is a bad idea, exactly. He's the right age and is very talented. He's played the whole "Disney" thing but also much more serious in CHARLIE ST. CLOUD, so he is capable of dramatic roles.

[best12bars]

Posted: 1/12/12 at 4:52pm

It's not so much him I'm against as that whole "Disney Channel School of Acting."

If he can drop it, and they will let him drop it (and they don't expect anyone else to try that schmacting), then fine.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 1/12/12 at 4:56pm

I would also like to add that I would welcome Hollywoods return to the dubbing of singing voices in musicals. Without that they really limit the amount of "stars" who can be in them and they turn into a Christopher Guest-like rotating cast of the same people.

Example- I think Sandra Bullock would be a fantastic Bakers Wife but she can't sing it. Or Colin Farrell as The Baker. The list is endless if you bring that back. (If only to avoid a another Nicole Kidman/NINE fiasco)