‘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/

Henry Cavill visits 'Sesame Street' -- EXCLUSIVE PHOTO

 ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY
By Emily Rome on Sep 16, 2013 at 9:00AM   @EmilyNRome

It’s a bird! It’s a plane! It’s… Super Grover and Superman!

Season 44 of Sesame Street kicks off on PBS today, and as has become custom, some familiar faces will appear on the beloved kids show throughout the season. On the premiere, which airs at 10 a.m. ET/PT, Elmo, Cookie Monster, et al. will be visited by Charlize Theron and Dave Matthews. Then in Tuesday’s episode, things will get heroic on Sesame Street when Superman himself, Man of Steel star Henry Cavill, swoops in.

The British actor filmed his segment during Sesame Street‘s annual Celeb Week, when the show’s New York-based cast and crew pack up their puppets and fly to Los Angeles for a few days of taping celebrity guest appearances. Celebs like Usher and Ginnifer Goodwin step on set on the hour, every hour for back-to-back tapings of segments for the show’s upcoming season.

Cavill appears in a “Word on the Street” segment with Elmo, the Three Little Pigs, and the Big Bad Wolf to teach kids about the word “respect.” But of course the newest Superman couldn’t leave set without taking time to meet another Muppet — or, rather, the alter ego of another Muppet — who knows a thing or two about wearing capes and saving the day. Before leaving set to get back to his busy Man of Steel promotion schedule (his Sesame Street visit was a mere week ahead of the blockbuster’s release), he took time for a photo opp with Super Grover.

Cavill was quite laugh-prone while taping with the Sesame Street Muppets, who had him cracking up when they launched into gags with a prop cake between takes. But Cavill had his chance to get the Muppets and puppeteers giggling too: At one point during shooting, a light high up on set blew out. Leslie Carrara-Rudolph — who was taking a break from puppeteering Abby Cadabby to operate one of the pigs — said, “We have Superman right here. He’ll just fly up and fix it!” And Cavill gamely played along, miming soaring upward with a lightbulb, looking just the part for the Man of Steel, chin up and dignified.


READ MORE HERE: http://family-room.ew.com/2013/09/16/sesame-street-henry-cavill-super-grover/

Benedict Cumberbatch Hints At Marriage As Sherlock Wraps Up Filming

E.
BY DEEPIKA RAJANI ON SEPTEMBER 16, 2013

The details of series three of Sherlock have been kept under wraps but Benedict Cumberbatch has teased that viewers will be seeing a wedding take place in the new episodes of the hit BBC drama.

With one of the biggest mysteries (how on earth did Sherlock manage to fake his own death?) set to be revealed on the new 90 minute episodes, the actor also teased to The Guardian: "Well, there's a reunion that doesn't necessarily go to plan. And there's a bonding experience that throws Sherlock and Watson back together in a very firm way. “And there's a new union as well, in the shape of a marriage, which Sherlock takes part in, so we see that."

Whilst we look forward to seeing the return of Benedict as Sherlock, the seasoned actor admitted that he felt sad when filming for the third season wrapped recently.

Confessing to being "sentimental" over his character, Benedict said: "I felt very sentimental on the last day of shooting, thinking, 'Oh, I've got to say goodbye to him again. He's f****** hard work, always has been, but I love him, and I got sad that I wasn't going to see him again for a while." Meanwhile, the actor recently admitted that he's not a fan of the questions he is asked about his private life by the media after he branded it as "s**t".


Read more at http://www.entertainmentwise.com/news/126608/Benedict-Cumberbatch-Hints-At-Marriage-As-Sherlock-Wraps-Up-Filming#F35Av2xJzGQ2PmIT.99

Downton Abbey series four, episode one - preview pictures and predictions (NO SPOILERS EXACTLY, JUST SPECULATION)

A look ahead at the first episode of series four, accompanied by Ellie Walker-Arnott's patented guessing game...

RADIO TIMES
September 16, 2013

It's been nine long months since Downton Abbey last graced our TV screens but you can breathe that sigh of relief. It's finally here. The world is the way it should be again.

Doesn't it just feel like all the pieces of your life are slotting into place? Like that strange empty feeling in the pit of your stomach has finally been filled? (No? Oh, okay. Just me then...)

Downton Abbey is making its triumphant return to the telly-box on Sunday and it would be a lie to say we haven't been dreaming of this moment for weeks. But let's not forget that Julian Fellowes has a lot of making up to do. The last time we were in his period drama world we had our hearts broken. And they were already straining under the pressure of all that festive turkey and mulled wine before poor Matthew was killed at the wheel of his modern motor car.

When it comes to the start of series four, we've got a lot of questions... How will Mary cope without her beloved Matthew? Will Branson be the man to warm her broken heart? Is Mary a natural mother? Has Edith run off with her married man? How much mischeif has Lady Rose already got up to? And what will Violet have to say about it all?

We've got pictures of the drama to come this Sunday, and it has been our absolute pleasure to get back to making sweeping judgements and spurious predictions about what Downton Abbey might have in store. Here goes...

Mary's looking miserable, isn't she? Which is completely understandable, of course. The poor love spent series three as a newlywed snuggling up to her Matthew. And then along came the Christmas special and before you could say Terry's Chocolate Orange he was cruelly taken from her on the day she gave birth to their first child. Cruel, Fellowes, too cruel.

Sunday's episode kicks off six months after Matthew's road accident. And Mary looks a little like she's been sat in this chair the whole time, slowly shrinking inside her mourning dress. Where baby George is is another question all together. We know the upper classes like their little ones to be seen and not heard, but it seems Mary prefers them not to be seen either. We suspected the eldest Crawley sister wouldn't be a natural mother, but without warm-hearted Matthew there to help we'd guess poor little George has barely seen his mum.


READ MORE HERE: http://www.radiotimes.com/news/2013-09-16/downton-abbey-series-four-episode-one---preview-pictures-and-predictions

Colin Firth: Leonardo da Vinci's The Last Supper recreated by star cast at National Portrait Gallery

Steven Berkoff, Julie Walters and Robert Powell are among the stars in the photo Credit: PA

THE TELEGRAPH

By News agencies3:31PM BST 16 Sep 2013

Among the names who posed for the photograph are Robert Powell, who famously played the title role in the TV mini-series Jesus of Nazareth, Julie Walters, Sir Michael Gambon and Steven Berkoff.

Photographer Alistair Morrison said: "My first two choices were Robert Powell who had to be Jesus, recreating the famous role played in Franco Zeffirelli's Jesus of Nazareth, and Julie Walters, who was asked to play Mary Magdalene (there has been speculation about whether it was Mary Magdalene or John the Apostle who was seated next to Jesus) and they both readily agreed. Their enthusiasm and influence helped to bring together this outstanding group of actors."

Robert Powell, Colin Firth, Tom Conti and Sir Michael Gambon

READ MORE HERE PLUS MORE PICTURES: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/celebritynews/10312974/Leonardo-da-Vincis-The-Last-Supper-recreated-by-star-cast-at-National-Portrait-Gallery.html