The Witches (2021 film)

Roald Dahl's The Witches is an upcoming American fantasy comedy film directed by Robert Zemeckis, and written by Zemeckis, Guillermo del Toro and Kenya Barris.

The Witches
Teaser poster with original release date
Directed byRobert Zemeckis
Produced by
Screenplay by
Based onThe Witches
by Roald Dahl
Starring
Music byAlan Silvestri
CinematographyDon Burgess[1]
Edited byJeremiah O'Driscoll
Production
company
Distributed byWarner Bros. Pictures
Release date
  • 2021 (2021)
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

It is based on the novel of the same name by Roald Dahl, and is the second feature length adaptation of the novel, following the 1990 film of the same name. It stars Anne Hathaway, Octavia Spencer, Stanley Tucci, Chris Rock, and Jahzir Kadeem Bruno. The film is scheduled to be released sometime in 2021 by Warner Bros. Pictures.

Premise

A little boy stumbles across a conference of witches while staying with his grandmother at a hotel, and gets transformed into a mouse by the Grand High Witch.

Cast

Production

Development

Talks of a new adaptation of Roald Dahl's novel of 1983, The Witches, began in December 2008, when Guillermo del Toro expressed interest in making a stop motion film.[2] No further developments on the potential project emerged until ten years later in June 2018, when Robert Zemeckis was hired to direct and write the script. Del Toro would produce, alongside Zemeckis and Alfonso Cuarón, in addition to having a screenplay credit.

It was described by Zemeckis as being closer to the original novel than the version of 1990, directed by Nicolas Roeg.[3] Kenya Barris will co write the film, which was revealed as taking place in Alabama during the 1960s, instead of the novel's 1980s England, and that the boy protagonist (originally an English child of Norwegian descent in the novel) is to be played by an African American actor.[4]

Casting

In January 2019, Anne Hathaway was cast in the role of Grand High Witch.[5] Octavia Spencer was cast in February, with newcomers Jahzir Bruno and Codie-Lei Eastick also joining.[6] In May, Stanley Tucci and Chris Rock were added.[7]

Filming

Principal photography began on May 8, 2019, with filming locations including Alabama, Georgia and at Warner Bros. Studios, Leavesden in Hertfordshire, England and Virginia Water Lake in Surrey, England. It was expected to wrap on June 25.[8][7][9] On June 19, a crew member was stabbed in the neck on the Warner Bros. Studios set in Leavesden.[10]

Music

On July 19, 2019, it was announced that Zemeckis's frequent collaborator, Alan Silvestri, will compose the film's score.[11]

Release

The film is scheduled to be released in 2021.[12] It was previously scheduled to be released on October 9 and October 16, 2020.[13][14]

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References
  1. Marc, Christopher (February 1, 2019). "'Aquaman' and 'Spider-Man' Cinematographer Don Burgress Joins WB's 'The Witches' Starring Anne Hathaway".
  2. Woerner, Meredith. "Guillermo Del Toro Dances With Roald Dahl's Witches". gizmodo.com. Retrieved April 10, 2018.
  3. D'Alessandro, Anthony (June 20, 2018). "Robert Zemeckis Taking On Roald Dahl's 'The Witches'".
  4. "EXCLUSIVE: Robert Zemeckis' 'The Witches' Remake Is Set In Alabama and Casting African-American Male Lead". Variety. November 7, 2018.
  5. Kroll, Justin (January 16, 2019). "Anne Hathaway to Star in Robert Zemeckis' 'The Witches' (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety.com.
  6. Kroll, Justin (February 12, 2019). "Octavia Spencer Joins Anne Hathaway in 'Witches' Adaptation (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety.
  7. Desk, TV News. "Principal Photography Begins on Robert Zemeckis' THE WITCHES". BroadwayWorld.com.
  8. "Robert Zemeckis' 'The Witches' Adds Octavia Spencer to Cast". February 13, 2019.
  9. Marc, Christopher (March 17, 2019). "WB's 'The Witches' Remake Starring Anne Hathaway and Octavia Spencer Expected To Wrap Filming On June 25th". HNEntertainment.co.
  10. Mcnary, David (June 19, 2019). "Crew Member Stabbed on Set of Anne Hathaway's 'The Witches' in England". Variety. Retrieved June 20, 2012.
  11. "Alan Silvestri to Reteam with Robert Zemeckis on 'The Witches' | Film Music Reporter". Retrieved 2020-07-20.
  12. D'Alessandro, Anthony (June 12, 2020). "'Matrix 4' Moves To 2022, 'Godzilla Vs. Kong' Stomps To 2021 & More: Warner Bros. Release Date Change Friday". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved June 12, 2020.
  13. D'Alessandro, Anthony (January 31, 2019). "Warner Bros Release Dates Galore: 'Doctor Sleep' Checks In This November, 'The Witches' In Fall 2020; 'The Suicide Squad' Returns In 2021".
  14. D'Alessandro, Anthony (October 25, 2019). "'Tom & Jerry' Jumps To Christmas 2020, 'The Witches' Inches Up A Week Next Fall".
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