Looks like Rob Marshall's INTO THE WOODS Film Is Gonna Happen Sooner Rather than Later — Page 5

The reason those names are suggested for the witch is because a big budget movie version of "Into the Woods" directed by Rob Marshall is going to star a catherine zeta jones, or a nicole kidman, or a charlize theron as the witch...

You are saying that Catherine Zeta Jones and Nicole Kidman are too old to play a character that spends the first half of the film as a shriveled hag? On a second note, have you ever seen pictures or video of the great Julia McKenzie in the role? After the transformation she doesn't have to be 20 and beautiful, just elegant and beautiful.

are there pics or video of Julia McKenzie in ITW? I've never seen any.

I would love to see Cotillard as the which. She is a big name and that woman can act the **** out of anything. She is able to convey so much with her eyes and that is what makes her so good.

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Yes, Marion Cotillard would be a great Witch if you want all the Witch's songs to be flat and breathy.

Updated On: 6/23/12 at 06:59 PM

^ Exactly, Phyllis. that would barely be a step above Bonham Carter's hollow boy tenor. CZJ's raspy voice at least has some power and emotion. She can certainly sell a song better than Cotillard and Carter.

Updated On: 6/23/12 at 07:28 PM

Aww sad. "My Husband Makes Movies" was my favourite part of the NINE movie...I think she'd make a good desiree. But yes, she doesn't have the voice for this role.

CZJ really seems like the best choice! She has a sufficient amount of power and vibrato to make songs like "Last Midnight" sound thrilling, she is beautiful and glamorous enough to make the transformation hilarious (just a silly argument that she is too old..she isn't, she looks great)...and she has enough star power + experience working with Sondheim and Marshall to minimise any risks. I really hope it happens.

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Updated On: 6/23/12 at 07:45 PM

Someone mentioned Kate Winslet, and I think that's a fairly good choice. She has a great voice, and I don't remember her having a successful 'movie musical', not even musical theatre......as far as I know about her career.

I loved Marion Cotillard's signing in NINE, she completely sold the numbers for me, I think Cotillard would act the hell out of the songs and be incredibly fun and incredible as the Witch, she's a fantastic actress. I agree Catherine Z. Jones is one of the people that would make the most sense for the role though, she and Marshall could create CHICAGO-like magic with a role as good as the Witch.
I think Jessica Chastain should also be considered for the Baker's Wife, if Amy Adams chooses not to do it. Eddie Redmayne or jamie Bell seems perfect for Jack, unless they go for a young kid.

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There must be pics of Julia as the WITCH from the West End production. She wears a little fascinator type pointed hat.
I loved that production. I have the Souveneir Program which is a fun artistic reminder.
And the CD has great pics also.
There are tons of actors that could score in these roles, and again NO ONE has to sing, it's a movie. I would love to hear the score sung beautifully, but that's not the point of movie misicals, remember Johnny as SWEENEY?

A more important element for me will be the design aspects, it has so many possibilties to be visually stunning and scarey.

I do feel they will add some type of framing device as in the stories being told to a modern kid, movies these days tend to do that.

I would love a more European cast in line with the Story Origins, Marion is a great choice for WITCH. Throw in more Brits and Germanics.

Having really enjoyed A Monster in Paris, I thought Vanessa Paradis might be an interesting choice

Oh I love these sorts of things!

Witch:
-I like the clip of Emily Blunt. Never heard her sing before...I think she could actually be a great witch since she has the comedy, the drama, the beauty...everything!
-Anne Hathaway could be a good choice too. She could also do a great Baker's wife.
-Megan Hilty might be an interesting choice.
-Kristen Chenowith could work if she didn't try to make it cutesy.
-Catherine Zeta Jones is a great choice but I worry about the more comedic parts, and she has done too much to her face.
-Sarah Jessica Parker I would love. I realize she isn't gorgeous and is looking a little old, but that doesn't bother me. Besides, with all the special effects they will use they can spare some for her right?
-Lady Gaga would be a bold choice.
-My fave choice is Idina Menzel though. She isn't famous enough probably, but I would love to see her do it.

Jack:
Daniel Radcliffe would be perfect in my opinion.

Jack's mother:
Only one I could think of is Helena Bonham Carter...she is too young though probably.

Baker and Baker's wife:
Younger: Amy Adams with Jason Segel. They were great in the Muppets together!
Older: Kate Winslet and Steve Carrel. He sang on Snl once. I could see him as the neurotic baker.

Little Red:
I think she should be a teen because on screen it will be way too creepy. I think Miley Cyrus would be perfect. She is so obnoxious already she wouldn't have to act at all.

Cinderella:
100 Percent voting for Kristen Bell.

Princes:
Older: I would love Matthew Morrison with Neil Patrick Harris as Cinderella's and Rapunzel's princes respectively. They had chemistry on Glee.
Younger: Jonathan Groff with some other semi famous young Broadway stud.

Narrator:
If they don't double cast with Mysterious Man I would love to see Ellen Degeneres as the narrator. I think their sense of humor is similar. OR I would love Steve Martin.

Stepmother:
Older: Kelly Bishop
Younger: Bebe Neuwirth

Giant:
Meryl Streep

Ok that is all I have for now.

I thought of Megan Hilty also, as she is a proven musical theatre talent, along with her stint on "Smash". I'm not sure if she's right for any of the roles, though. I guess she would make a good Baker's Wife.

Another person I thought of was Zooey Deschanel. She has proven that she can sing, and I think this would be a great opportunity for her to sort of shed her "quirky girl" image and prove that she really can act in a dramatic role. I think she would really be an interesting choice for Cinderella.

For the Witch, what about Harriet Harris or Ellen Greene? Neither one is necessarily the first person I'd think of for the role, but we know that they can sing and act.