Streep 'confirmed' as The Witch in WOODS film — Page 3

I hope this isn't true. Good grief, can someone else in Hollywood get a role besides Streep? She and Anne Hathaway need to stay away from musicals! Or any other "major" star who can barely sing.

"Gummer girl"

You mean Meryl's daughter?

Was it 100% confirmed that Sarah Hyland will play Little Red? I heard her sing "Say The Word" at the Kerrigan-Lowwdermilk concert in L.A. and I thought she sounded great!

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Oh how i cannot wait to read this thread come the films debut!
Other then that. This is a great score and the naysayers are thinking about the feeling that you get from a trained or great singer. Not just throw *BIG NAME AS WITCH* in the role.

I don't care how many times Streep has sung. She doesnt make albums.

The film is already sold!

"Truly, I'm more concerned with the casting of the Baker and his wife. Those two are the heart of the show and a bad choice can throw the whole show out of whack."

I'm with you, ComingUpRoses. Keep Dennis O'Hare far away from this project. And Hugh Jackman for that matter.

my avatar- London witch

I'll bet Rob Marshall wasn't exactly excited at the prospect of Catherine Zeta Jones as the Witch. She wanted the part of Claudia expanded in "Nine" and ultimately quit the project because he wouldn't agree to it.

I'll bet he pictured a similar scenario with Into the Woods, and didn't even want to go there. That "loyalty card" got used up during preproduction of his last film musical.

As far as "black people," I think it would be interesting (and I see no reason why not) to cast Jack and his mother as African Americans. I could see Octavia Spencer as Jack's Mother, definitely.

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Updated On: 2/1/13 at 06:27 AM

Meryl can sing Stay With Me and Last Midnight and Children Will Listen.

Operatic training? This isn't the Ring Cycle or the Queen of the Night's aria.

She'll be fine. And she'll not only bring movie audiences in to see her play the Witch, she'll attract other acting talent who "just have to be in a Meryl Streep movie before they die."

I would look for other A-list actors clamoring to be in this movie now.

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I'm more interested in seeing her "hag up" and do the Witch's Rap at the beginning. I'll bet she bites into it like nobody has before.

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I think this is great news!! I think she'll be terrific, as usual. I have no problem with Streep getting any job that she does, because she's always great. I wasnt thrilled with Mamma Mia, but it wasnt her fault as much as the direction, which was terrible. I'm still sad she didnt get to play Mrs. Lovett.

She can definitely sing this role. I have no idea why anyone would prefer CZJ.

I do agree that the casting of the baker and his wife are critical. I'd love to see Ewan McGregor and Toni Colette.

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I would love to have seen Michelle Pfeiffer as the Witch; I so wish she would get a really prime role at this point in her career - why don't we see more of her?

But as for the semantics of the casting for the film, I know Streep was the first choice and no one else was seriously considered. That is no slam to Zeta and some of the other actors mentioned in this thread (I don't believe there is any bad blood between she and Rob Marshall over her withdrawal from NINE) but Streep is simply the "Hugh Jackman" this project needed to be greenlit. There isn't any other female movie star with the prestige and box office power to compare (Zeta's recent box office has been especially lack luster) and to produce a 100 million dollar musical in this day and age, that is simply what's required to get the financing.

I have heard some rumblings about the other casting and its interesting and makes sense. There have been several very "A" list actors who have been offered roles (or have pursued them) and I think it could end up being rather exciting.

I think Streep by the way, will be wonderful.

And she played a great witch in Stardust