Chorus Member Joined: 10/3/12
Johnny Depp is in talks with Disney to join its bigscreen adaptation of the Broadway musical “Into the Woods.”
Meryl Streep is also in discussions with the Mouse House to join the production to play the evil witch. Rob Marshall (who helmed Disney’s fourth “Pirates of the Caribbean”) will direct the film.
Musical revolved around a childless baker and his wife who attempt to lift a family curse by journeying into the woods to confront the witch that put the spell on them. Along the way, they encounter Rapunzel, Cinderella, “Jack and the Beanstalk’s” Jack Little Red Riding Hood and other classic fairy tale characters.
There is no production start date yet for the film.
Source: Variety
The Baker, obviously.
Ugh.
Broadway Legend Joined: 8/5/11
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/8/12
This has been rumored for months particularly given the good working relationship between Depp and Marshall during filming of Pirates IV.
Why is Variety just getting this news now?
And Streep? This casting has been confirmed for months by many including Streep herself.
Chorus Member Joined: 10/3/12
Because Variety doesn't report RUMORS, only news. Guess Depp's been considering the offer for a while but only now entered official negotiations.
Has Streep been officially announced? She's talked about it and has been heavily rumored but I didn't think Disney had confirmed the casting.
I don't think Depp is right for the Baker at all, but I'm also not surprised he's involved, Marshall likes to keep it in the family and so does Disney.
I think he'd make a good wolf.
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/8/12
Stephen Sondheim is a big Johnny Depp fan and you can rest assured that Rob Marshall ran this casting by Sondheim.
Now we just need official word on Reese W.
He'd be a great Wolf, but is that too small?
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/8/12
The Wolf will be CGI so that would be a voice over part.
I can see him as the Wolf, but anyone else? Ehhh...
He's not dorky enough for the baker.
He'd be a fantastic wolf, small part or not. It could probably get him an Oscar.
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/20/03
Hell to the no for the Baker. I will boycott!
I was hoping for James Corden as the Baker.
Oh great. Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter as the Baker and his Wife.
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/16/07
The Mysterious Man, maybe?
Well people might actually go and see it now!
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/28/07
He probably is going to be the Baker. The Wolf would be a better part for him.
Depp is known mostly for his sly or evil or cartoonish characters.
But if you see his work in Finding Neverland, you can tell he could do the Baker justice. He just needs to approach it realistically (oddly enough). If he tries to be a crazy character, he will not only kill the role but kill the entire movie singlehandedly.
The Baker and the Baker's Wife are the heart and soul of the musical. Everybody else can be crazy ... not them.
And do we think Depp can be the sane one in a forest full of eccentric fairy-tale characters? Talk about sitting on your hands! Good luck with that, Johnny.
I'm suddenly reminded of the "fatal" casting of Daniel Day-Lewis as Guido in NINE. It threw the tone of the whole film off to have such a "weighty" actor in what should have been a lighter and more comedic role.
The difference here is that Depp CAN play this role and be the "straight guy."
But will he?
Besty, I agree with you.
Here we have someone who CAN play the role. But WILL he play it correctly?
Maybe Depp wants to take this on as a means to remind people that he's not always a cartoon. He's a brilliant actor in the hands of the right director and seems to be a guy who understands when it's time to reel it in.
Hopefully Marshall doesn't have the wrong idea.
The first role that came to mind for me was The Wolf, no?
So is this the Baker and His Wife?
Hmm ...
Well I'm gonna go and wager he is the crazy old man. It seems to me that puts him opposite of Streep. And now that I think about it, the changes to the narrator as seen in Central Park's production really made his character more serious.
Besty, I truly hope this isn't a Daniel Day-Lewis in NINE case again. He was so horribly miscast and ended up giving what might possibly be the worst performance of his career. I don't think Depp would be nearly as terrible, but I do worry he'll play it cooky and eccentric when he should be grounded. I also feel like the Baker should be funny at times, Depp's humor mainly stems from his eccentricity, again, it'll be a challenge. Ewan McGregor sings, can be funny and is extremely relatable. He did just have a terrible experience with the JACK AND THE GIANT SLAYER movie so I see why he might not have been interested and how Disney might not have wanted him to be associated with another Jack movie.
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