Disney’s ‘Into the Woods’: Check out the first pictures
By Ben Kelly
New images from Disney’s Into The Woods have been released – in advance of the eagerly-anticipated first trailer later today (July 31).
The all-star movie, whose cast includes Meryl Streep, Johnny Depp, Emily Blunt and James Corden, is the long-awaited film adaptation of Stephen Sondheim’s Tony Award-winning 1987 Broadway musical.
The plot fuses all the classic Brothers Grimm fair tale characters and their stories – from Little Red Riding Hood and Cinderella, to Jack and the Beanstalk – as the Baker (Corden) and his wife (Blunt) attempt to lift the curse of infertility cast upon them by the Witch (Streep).
Scroll down for a selection of stills from the film.
James Corden and Emily Blunt lead the cast as the lesser known characters of the Baker and the Baker’s Wife, whose quest to break the curse of the Witch leads them to learn dark truths about their family history.
Meryl Streep is on course for her 19th Oscar nomination as the emotionally complex, rapping Witch, who turns out to be something of an overbearing mother.
Rising American actress MacKenzie Mauzy lets her hair down as Rapunzel, who has been locked up by the Witch.
Newcomer Billy Magnussen plays Rapunzel’s Prince.
Fresh from playing Annie on Broadway, teen actress Lilla Crawford plays Little Red Riding Hood.
Her journey through the woods brings her into contact with the Baker and his quest…
…but also with the dandy Wolf, played by Johnny Depp – who isn’t giving much away here.
Twilight’s Anna Kendrick played the downtrodden Cinderella…
…and Hollywood hunk Chris Pine plays her Prince.
Jack, off of the Beanstalk, is played by Daniel Huttlestone (whose untimely death in Les Miserables probably had you weeping), and the legendary Tracey Ullman takes on the role of his mother.
The wishes of the various characters force them to come together in the woods, against the overriding dangers posed by the unseen Giant.
The film also features Frances de la Tour as the Giant’s Wife, Simon Russell Beale as the Baker’s Father and Christine Baranski as Cinderella’s Stepmother. Meanwhile, Meryl Streep gets her own brand new song, especially for the film, meaning the actress could be set for a performance at next year’s Oscars.
Into The Woods is scheduled for release on Christmas Day.