[dropcap size=small]S[/dropcap]tephen Sondheim’s classic stage musical Into the Woods is being adapted by Disney into a motion picture with Chicago director Rob Marshall at the helm, and Entertainment Weekly has given a first look at Johnny Depp as the Wolf. He graces the cover of the magazine’s upcoming holiday movie preview issue alongside young Lilla Crawford as Little Red Riding Hood. Have a glimpse below.
Depp’s costume draws inspiration from Tex Avery’s cartoons from the 1940‘s, and took extra consideration to develop the right look as he is the only animal character in the film. Marshall reunited his design team from Chicago to help bring Sondheim’s fantasy tale to the big screen with a darker twist.
The director explained his vision for the film’s overall look:
“I didn’t want this to look like a cartoon world. It’s not sunny, sunny, sunny–we wanted a sense of danger.”
Marshall had worked previously with Depp on the most recent installment of the Pirates of the Caribbean series, On Stranger Tides, and is giving the A-lister his second singing role in a film. Depp portrayed the murderous lead character in Tim Burton’s Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (which was also adapted from a Sondheim musical), proving that the actor has some singing chops to go along with his exceptional acting skills.
The film’s all-star cast will make the picture one that many moviegoers will be drawn to. Depp will be joined by Meryl Streep (the Witch), Anna Kendrick (Cinderella), Chris Pine (the Prince), James Coder (the Baker), and Emily Blunt (the Baker’s Wife).
A new featurette has also been released that gives viewers a more in-depth look into the production of the upcoming musical. Check it out below and give us your thoughts!
Into the Woods hits theaters nationwide on Christmas Day.
Could be good. I’ll reserve judgment until I see it.