‘Into the Woods’ Synopsis & Cast Revealed (Meryl Streep, Emily Blunt, Chris Pine, James Corden, Johnny Depp….)

FLICKS AND BITS

Disney today send word that filming started last week for ‘Into the Woods.’ Rob Marshall (Chicago) directs the film, which is based on the Tony-winning original musical by James Lapine, who also penned the screenplay, and legendary composer Stephen Sondheim, who provides the music and lyrics - including an all-new song for the big-screen adaptation. ‘Into the Woods’ is produced by Marshall, John DeLuca, ‘Wicked’ producer Marc Platt and Callum McDougall. Shooting in studio and on location throughout England, the film is slated for a December 25th, 2014, holiday release.

‘Into the Woods’ is described as a “modern twist on the beloved Brothers Grimm fairy tales, intertwining the plots of a few choice stories and exploring the consequences of the characters’ wishes and quests. This humorous and heartfelt musical follows the classic tales of Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood, Jack and the Beanstalk, and Rapunzel - all tied together by an original story involving a baker and his wife, their wish to begin a family and their interaction with the witch who has put a curse on them.”

The all-star ensemble cast includes:

· Meryl Streep portrays the Witch who wishes to reverse a curse so that her beauty may be restored.
· Emily Blunt is the Baker’s Wife, a childless woman who longs to be a mother.
· James Corden plays the role of the Baker, a hard-working man who desperately wants to start a family.
· Anna Kendrick fills the shoes of Cinderella, who finds herself on a journey of self-discovery.
· Chris Pine portrays Cinderella’s Prince, charming and impossibly handsome, who is on an endless quest to find his bride.
· Johnny Depp steps in as the Wolf, who sets his sights on Little Red Riding Hood.
· Lilla Crawford (Broadway’s “Annie”) makes her feature-film debut as Little Red Riding Hood, a smart and spunky girl who journeys into the woods, finding unexpected adventures along the way.
· Daniel Huttlestone lands the role of Jack, an absentminded and adventurous boy who trades his treasured cow for five magic beans.
· Tracey Ullman joins the cast as Jack’s Mother, a poor and exasperated mom who is overwhelmed, yet fiercely protective of her son.
· Christine Baranski takes on the infamous Stepmother who wishes for riches and grandeur; she’ll do anything to marry off one of her daughters to a prince.
· MacKenzie Mauzy plays Rapunzel, a sheltered young woman who experiences the world beyond her tower for the first time.
· Billy Magnussen is the dashing and eager Prince who courts Rapunzel.


READ MORE HERE: http://www.flicksandbits.com/2013/09/16/into-the-woods-synopsis-cast-revealed-meryl-streep-emily-blunt-james-corden-johnny-depp/56831/

Let’s All Watch Tom Hiddleston Sing ‘The Bare Necessities’ Next To Christina Hendricks

UPROXX

WRITTEN BY JOSH KURP

August 10, 2013

The D23 Expo is the kind of place where the press and people who wear lanyards and Mickey Mouse underwear go absolutely nuts over the announcement of a Tinker Bell spinoff movie called The Fairy Pirate. It’s not a pretty look for humanity, unlike Tom Hiddleston and Christina Hendricks, who are about as attractive as humanity gets.

Read more: http://www.uproxx.com/webculture/2013/08/lets-all-watch-tom-hiddleston-sing-the-bear-necessities-next-to-christina-hendricks/#ixzz2bcczzMEW

'Thor' director Kenneth Branagh in talks to direct 'Cinderella' Mark Romanek recently exited the fairy tale film starring Cate Blanchett BY HITFIX STAFF THURSDAY, JAN 31, 2013 4:18 PM (HIT FIX)

"Thor" director Kenneth Branagh may help "Cinderella" live happily ever after at Disney.

Just three weeks after original director Mark Romanek ("Never Let Me Go") exited the project, Disney is reportedly in talks with Branagh to come aboard the fairy tale film.

It's scheduled to begin production this fall in London, and the studio is understandably in a hurry to ink a deal with Branagh, according to Vulture.

Cate Blanchett is still attached to play the wicked stepmother, although the search for Cinderella herself is still on. The film has been in the works since 2011, following the massive success of Tim Burton’s "Alice in Wonderland."  The initial script was by Aline Brosh McKenna ("Devil Wears Prada"), but Vulute reports that "Twilight: New Moon" director Chris Weitz has since re-written it.


Read more at http://www.hitfix.com/news/thor-director-kenneth-branagh-in-talks-to-direct-cinderella#RQEBWFKUOacKAuJZ.99 

Imelda Staunton Joins Maleficent Sam Riley and more aboard fairy tale 07 May 2012 | Written by James White | Source: The Hollywood Reporter (EMPIRE)

Being around magic in Nanny McPhee and two of the Harry Potter films has clearly not put Imelda Staunton off the idea. She’s signed on to lead a batch of British actors into the cast of Disney’s Maleficent, joining stars Angelina Jolie and Elle Fanning.

Robert Stromberg is behind the camera for the film, a new, live-action version of Sleeping Beauty that puts Maleficent’s point of view front and centre.

Staunton and Lesley Manville are playing Knotgrass and Flittle, two of the pixies who help to take care of Fanning’s Princess Aurora. Miranda Richardson is aboard to play Queen Ulla, the Fairy Queen who happens to be Maleficent’s aunt, and not all that keen on her niece.

Kenneth Cranham will be the human king, who has his eye on conquering the fairy kingdom, while Sam Riley has landed the role of Diaval, a raven who can shift into human form and serves Maleficent.


READ MORE:  http://www.empireonline.com/news/story.asp?NID=33883

Movie Review: John Carter (FIREFOX NEWS)

By Aubrey Ward III
Published Yesterday


Look Out Luke Skywalker. There's A New Galactic Savior In Town.

John Carter opens with a brief overview of Barsoom (aka Mars) and the civil war that has raged between the righteous city of Helium and the tyrants of Zodanga. The scales are tipped in Zodanga's favor when “Zodangan” Prince Sab Than (Dominic West) is given a powerful weapon by a mysterious figure named Matai Shang (Mark Strong). With new technology and Matai Shang's remarkable resources Sab Than's conquest of Barsoom looks promising.

We then head back to Earth, circa 1800's, where John Carter (Taylor Kitsch) has passed away and left his fortune to his nephew, Edgar Rice Burroughs (Daryl Sabara). Edgar begins to read John's memoir that explains how John managed to get to Mars and his adventures there upon his arrival.

I'm not an Edgar Rice Burroughs expert so I don't know how faithful this film adaptation was to the original series of novels. I watched the film as a total virgin to the John Carter saga so my view is of someone who likes Disney films, special effects extravaganzas, and science fiction adventures.

I found John Carter to be interesting. It's easy to say the plot is familiar because there have been plenty of flicks that featured a human being as the unlikely savior of an alien race. Then I have to put into perspective that the source material for this film was written in the early 1900s. So it's probably a more fitting claim that films like Avatar (2009), The Last Starfighter (1984) and Green Lantern (2011) were actually inspired (unintentionally or not) by Mr. Burroughs' works.

Nevertheless, the theme has been done before so John Carter is the same kitchen sink but with a different polish; new guy lands on foreign soil through extraordinary circumstances, quickly learns the customs and then becomes the unlikely hero that rallies the troops into a victorious frenzy. Despite the familiarity of the basic plot I enjoyed John Carter's adventures both off and on Mars. John's efforts to escape from his military duties leads to some thrilling yet amusing episodes with Colonel Powell (Bryan Cranston) and his troops.

Then comes the trip to Barsoom where John gets a crash course on Martian etiquette from a tribal race known as the Tharks. The green skinned, four-armed peoples are pretty brutal and aggressive but have a strong sense of honor when it comes to religion and customs. Thankfully, the Tharks are much closer in concept to the Navi in Avatar (2010) than the Gungans in Star Wars I: The Phantom Menace (1999). The Tharks are presented in a mostly serious tone. They are a tough, rugged people and the combination of CG and voice acting is done well enough to make the Thark people a very natural part of the cast rather than just a dazzling gimmick.


READ THE ENTIRE REVIEW;  http://firefox.org/news/articles/3674/1/Movie-Review-John-Carter-2012/Page1.html