Dream-Casting "Into the Woods"

This post is for Elissa and Ellen and Jenni, because most likely, no one out there reading this will care unless you're a fan of Sondheim or theatre.




I read that Rob Marshall will direct the movie version of "Into the Woods" (Sondheim) for D*sney.   

Well, I just about coughed up a lung. I was so surprised because I had heard that Sondheim was so particular that no one wanted to do this (... and yet.. .the disaster that is the movie version of Sweeney Todd).



I have very definite opinions when it comes to this post, because it's not only my favorite Sondheim musical, but my favorite musical period.   This musical is brilliant. It could make an amazing film.  It weaves the stories of Cinderella, Rapunzel, Jack and the Beanstalk,  and Little Red Riding Hood etc, together, and delivers a complex morality of human nature: right and wrong, good and evil, society vs. the individual, parenthood and marriage; it's all there.  And it's also very funny. 


I'm not a purist.
I live in the real world. 
This means that box office success is the point, otherwise why make the movie?
Hollywood will HAVE to get people in the seats. 
And altho I could come up with a spectacular revival Broadway Cast, that cast would not likely translate to the big screen or motivate the general public to see the movie (US audiences are not fond of musicals, generally speaking.).   So Mr. Marshall (who did the movie version of Chicago) will have his work cut out for him yet again. 

I'm so excited!



The Cast
These movie versions almost always get cast with the hot-star-du-jour, sacrificing singing ability (thus, the aforementioned Sweeney Todd).  But I still think there's a way.

I know they will miscast The Witch. They will go for a glamorous woman who isn't particularly funny or believable while she's playing the crone-half of the role.  Ironically, this is what happened in the Bway revival... I do like Vanessa Williams a lot (saw this version twice), but she's not funny, and wasn't a very believable crone... too pretty.  And yet I love-love-loved her on UGLY BETTY, where she was actually very funny.  Different kind of role. 

Here's my Dream Cast with the caveat that it has to have Box Office Relatability:

The Witch:  There is only one witch: Bernadette Peters. 







Narrator/Mysterious Man:  Robert Downey Jr. or Bryan Cranston or Jack Black.
Any of these would do the role justice, I think.  I also thought of Alan Rickman, but not sure he could play the humor as well as Robert or Bryan or Jack.






The Baker:  Paul Rudd or James Marsden.
Both sing well!  Paul Rudd would be adorable as the fumbling baker trying to do it all on his own, lost in who he thinks he should be, trying to be the bread-winner (wink).  James Marsden, same... adorable. Either would make me happy as a clam.  They could also go the other direction with this role, with someone like Jack Black... and that would change my choices for both Baker's Wife and Cinderella.  Chemistry is everything.



The Baker’s Wife:  Gwynth Paltrow or Jane Krakowski. or Kristin Chenoweth.
This is so hard.  She has to be strong and appealing, yet empathetic when she commits adultery. Hard balance.   After the witch, this is the role I had the hardest time dream-cating.  Kristin could be very funny.  And she and Jane are the rare examples of Bway stars who can translate to Hollywood.




Cinderella:    Mandy Moore or Anne Hathaway.
Both sing beautifully.  Both appealing, and both would match up well with the Bakers.




Cinderella’s Prince/The Wolf:  Zachary Levi or Cheyenne Jackson.
The movie version might split this role into two, but I think it would be a lot less funier if they were played by the same actor like in the musical.   The actor therefore has to play arrogant but likable (prince) and lecherous and beguiling (the wolf).





Rapunzel:  Reese Witherspoon or Anne Hathaway. 
Unless they include the restored song "Our Little World" that she sings with The Witch, this is a light singing role at best.  If they do, I think Reese would pair well with The Witches above. (you thought I was going to suggest Mandy, didn't you!).




Rapunzel’s Prince:  Jason Segal or Will Farrell.
He has to be less confident, more put-upon and softer than the other prince, because he's stuck with a crazy wife whom he must endure.  I don't think age matters as much in this role. 


Jack:   Darren Criss, Jonathan Groff, Neil Patrick Harris,  Justin Timberlake.
This role has to have all the innocence in the world; he has to be very green, and coddled by his mother, and not so smart.   I think any of them could likely do it justice.




Jack’s Mother:  Dawn French or Megan Mullally or Christine Ebersole.
If they cast Dawn French, I would squeal.  She would be perfection as the struggling mother with an inept and slightly simple child. And also would play the tragic end well.  So would Megan and Christine.  I pray they don't cast an actress who is TOO serious (Meryl Streep).




Red Riding Hood:  Zooey Deschanel. 
This character needs to be quirky and youthful, but she has a savvy edge to her.  I really think Zooey is perfect.




I'll be surprised if any of my Hollywood "dream cast"get cast.  Why?  Because the producers and studio will go for stunt casting to get people in the seats.  I guess I can't blame them.

This movie may not be the best vocal cast of these amazing songs.  But there's hope.  Not to mention... songs always get cut.  I wonder which ones will get axed?  I wonder if they'll even follow through and make this movie??

I would bet that of any of the names above, names like Justin Timberlake, Zooey, Jack Black, Zach Levi, Gwyneth, James Marsden, Jason Segal, Anne Hathaway, Neil Patrick and Reese are being toyed with.   Or even some I didn't mention, like Gerard Butler, Ewan McGregor, Harry Connick Jr, Amanda Seyfried, David Hyde Pierce (thanks Elissa!) and Christine Baranski.  I would be shocked if Robert Downey Jr. would even consider taking a role in a musical. Shame, cuz he could be very funny and appealing.  And I bet we see some fun cameos in some of the smaller roles... like Sophia Vagara as one of the Step-Sisters (how fun!).  


I hope it's a wonderful cast.  To quote Cinderella:
  "I wish!"

If you'd like to read my friend Elissa's equally fun and appropriate choices for this movie, click over to **Awesome/Fearsome** for more INTO the WOODS fantasy casting.



Okay, enough Theatre Geekery.
We now return you to your regularly scheduled blogdom.


~Shephard the Hopeful :)