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into the woods

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Okay, it seems it's about time: let's talk about the proposed Into the Woods movie cast as it looks to stand so far.

Johnny Depp as the Wolf: I mean, this could be fine, although it's weird to me that the Wolf and Cinderella's Prince are not going to be double-cast, because that is kind of an important layer of meaning that you lose. On the other hand, I am pretty sick of Johnny Depp, and also kind of disgusted by the whole Lone Ranger thing, so I am not feeling super-enthused.

Chris Pine and Jake Gyllenhall as the Princes: Chris Pine will be an amazing parody Disney prince and I have no complaints. Jake Gyllenhaal is a bit less obvious, but sure, he'll pull it off fine. Rock out, dudes!

Emily Blunt as the Baker's Wife: I kind of into this! My favorite kind of Baker's Wife is one that exudes an air of competence, and Emily Blunt does that very well.

Meryl Streep as the Witch: HMMM. I can't tell whether I have a good reason not to be excited about this, or I'm just annoyed because my fantasy casting of Queen Latifah as the Witch is not coming true. (SHE WOULD BE SO GOOD.)

Christine Baranski as Cinderella's Stepmother: I NEVER complain about more Christine Baranski in my eyes. The entirety of Mamma Mia was worth it for Christine Baranski. (Because this is the casting I am most excited for, it is of course the only one that IMDB lists as 'rumored' rather than confirmed.)

James Corden as the Baker: All I know about James Corden is that

innerbrat hates him with a fiery passion.

Overall thoughts:
- as described so far, this is a SUPER WHITE cast
- aside from Christine Baranski, can any of these people . . . . sing? I mean I guess that has never stopped Johnny Depp before
- Cinderella, Jack, and Little Red are all apparently still up for grabs! Fantasy casting suggestions? A part of me is secretly hoping that Brandy will play Cinderella and we can all have a collective flashback to the nineties.

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This is a train wreck waiting to happen. In the form of reuniting Johhny Depp and Rob Marshall. Thing is, I still like Depp a lot. But he has been the parody version of the old Depp for a while now, and the way Marshall used in Mermaids of Florida (with Jack Sparrow) tells me we would see more of the same.

Don't know most of the other cast members well. I have never warmed up to Meryl Streep but everyone else seems to like her.

I don't have any deep feelings about anyone in the cast. My biggest question is the same as yours "can any of them sing?" because that is really important. I kind of gave up on Johnny Depp after the third Pirates of the Caribbean movie, so I'm not that excited. I found a clip on YouTube of him singing in Sweeney Todd and he didn't make me wince, so he's probably tolerable.

I agree with you that Queen Latifah would make a great Witch and I'd go with Brandi as Cinderella, but I do suspect we will be getting a very white cast. The word is that Daniel Hufflestone who was Gavroche in Les Mis has been cast as Jack, but not officially confirmed, so it's still a pretty white cast all in all. I wish they had gone with some actors I know can sing for the cast, but it s what it is.

Oh well, whatever happens I have my DVD of the Great Performances Into the Woods hold onto.

Another for the wary crowd as the only one I think could really work is Chris Pine. He knows how to do the prince thing as proved in the second Princess Diaries movie and he has the right look.

The others I don't know. I'm glad this is a thing that's happening.

I mean, the Wolf should be a parody, but there's parody and then there's . . . Johnny Depp. And Johnny Depp has by now reached a WHOLE NEW LEVEL.

The fourth Pirates of the Caribbean movie, to be fair, was an AMAZINGLY HILARIOUS movie about the forbidden romance between a priest and a mermaid, it's just they also sandwiched in another movie about Johnny Depp in there too.

I liked Daniel Hufflestone in Les Mis and I think he would make a good Jack! But man, there is NO EXCUSE for making the entire cast white.

WE'LL ALWAYS HAVE JOANNA GLEASON

I am still kind of sad that the rumors about Neil Patrick Harris as a Prince never came to be, because wow, how hilarious would that have been?

He would have been amazing. I could also see him working as the Wolf too. Just anyone, he would get it.

You know who should be the wolf? HUGH JACKMAN.

That would have been hilarious.

Meryl Streep did sing in Mamma Mia, but literally all I know about that is that her track was a hit in Portugal.

But now I'll just confess that I also know nothing about Into the Woods. I am rather nostalgically attached to that 1997 Cinderella though.

OMG YES I am so sad that is not happening now!

Oh that's right, I totally forgot she did that! . . . also I am impressed that you have that information.

Also man I have been having strange powerful cravings to rewatch that Cinderella. WE SHOULD DO THAT.

Nic Cage.

AGONY @________@

I... am seriously side-eying this movie. Except for Christine Baranski. But I've pretty much accepted that nothing will live up to my expectations (I have fancasted this mofo at least six times) and I fully expect it will be a childhood-ruining clusterfuck, lol.

But hey, at least it can't be worse than that time somebody cast a dude as the Witch? (Seriously, Walnut Street Theater. What the ACTUAL fuck?)

I can't tell whether I have a good reason not to be excited about this, or I'm just annoyed because my fantasy casting of Queen Latifah as the Witch is not coming true.

LOL that is a valid reason, but I have another: she's way too old for this role. I love Meryl Streep, but she's almost the same age as Bernadette Peters, who played the Witch 25 years ago.

As for Cinderella and Little Red, AHEM CASTING DIRECTORS. I am available and I know all the words. I AM JUST SAYING.

I REMEMBER THAT PRODUCTION OMG. Wasn't that also the one that used puppets for the intro?

I actually always wanted to play Jack's Mother in Into the Woods. It seems like the most fun role by far. Run around shrieking at the top of your lungs and pinching people's cheeks! WHAT COULD BE BETTER.

PERFECT

more Nic Cageful than yooooours

"Way too old for the role" sums up my feelings too. I mean, I subscribe to the belief that the right casting choice is always Meryl Streep -- if someone wants to cast Meryl Streep as Batman, cast Meryl Streep as Batman -- but this may be the exception that proves the rule.

Can I start a Twitter campaign for Beyonce as the Witch?

OH MY GOD I AM SUBSCRIBING TO THAT CAMPAIGN THIS SECOND

allllll the single witches

Apparently my only feels on the subject of the actors are OMFG YES CAN BRANDY PLEASE PLAY CINDERELLA. (I will never get over how much I love the 1997 Cinderella)

Brandy Cinderella 2013! THE CAMPAIGN STARTS HERE.

OH GOD I DON'T REMEMBER PUPPETS. I may be seriously repressing, though. I would not rule it out.

I wanted to play ALL THE ROLES when I was a kid, but I always ran out of breath doing the opening number because trying to sing four parts at once is HARD, yo. The Baker's Wife was always my fave, though.

EXACTLY. I feel like I should love Meryl for this, but... no.

I am down with Beyonce, although Audra McDonald is my dream cast.

One never knows, benefit of the doubt, yadda, but I am side-eying all these actors with uncertain musical backgrounds. Into the Woods is a bloody hard score.

Signed.

YES THIS

DEAR UNIVERSE

FIRE JOHNNY DEPP AND HIRE HUGH JACKMAN NOW KTHX

Needs more Queen Latifah and Taye Diggs. And... yeah, juuuuuudging the whole white cast thing. Especially Johnny Depp. Sir, I say this with the greatest of respect, but what what what is the Lone Ranger movie bullshit.

I have no hope for this movie. It is dead to me.

SERIOUSLY. You don't ask an untrained person to sing Sondheim! Except in the shower.

BOTH THOSE PEOPLE. Why did they not let me crowdsource-cast this movie! We would have collectively done so much of better job. ;__;

I cannot quench the tiny flame of hope in my heart, but I have pretty much resigned myself to trying to enjoy the process of tearing it to shreds, yeah.

I mean, righteous indignation has its own rewards?

Why does Debi hate James Corden? :(

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lcAUKOICPn4

Smiffy (the character he plays) is basically my brother. :D

I am a neutral third-party reporter! Debi is going to have to come explain her hatred for herself.

:( alas, that clip is not available in my country. Dammit, UK!

Lesbian
Vampire
Killers.

Cinderella will be played by Anna Kendrick http://www.vulture.com/2013/06/into-the-woods-anna-kendrick-cinderella.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+nymag%2Fvulture+%28Vulture+-+nymag.com%27s+Entertainment+and+Culture+Blog%29 We still have an all white cast. No surprise here.

I actually really like Anna Kendrick, but all of my concerns . . . remain concerns. >.<

*belatedly reads post* *Googles "Johnny Depp Lone Ranger"*

oh. my god. wtf wtf wtf.

Edited 2013-06-24 23:49 (UTC)

appropriate icon is appropriate

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