Meryl Streep Heads Into the Woods For Rob Marshall’s Sondheim Adaptation

Last time Rob Marshall adaptated a lesser-known but still much admired musical, Nine, it didn’t turn out too well, but nevertheless he’s keen to get a film version of Stephen Sondheim’s Into The Woods on the screen. Broadway World reports he may have some heavyweight help in the form of Meryl Streep, as she is in talks to join the movie.

Into The Woods weaves multiple fairy-tales together including Little Red Riding Hood, Cinderella, Jack and the Beanstalk and Rapunzel. The story centres on a evil witch who curses the main character, Baker, and his wife. The two have to try and reverse the curse, which prevents them from bearing children. It isn’t known exactly who Streep might play.

Warner Bros and Disney recently hosted a screenplay reading for the film, which included Nina Arianda as The Baker’s Wife, Christine Baranski as the Stepmother, Tammy Blanchard as Florinda, Victoria Clark as Cinderella’s Mother/Giant, James Corden as the Baker, David Garrison as the Narrator, Ivan Hernandez as the Wolf, Megan Hilty as Lucinda, Cheyenne Jackson as Rapunzel’s Prince, Allison Janney as Jack’s Mother, Anna Kendrick as Cinderella, Michael McGrath as the Steward/Baker’s Father, Donna Murphy as the Witch, Laura Osnes as Rapunzel, Taylor Trensch as Jack, Casey Whyland as Little Red Riding Hood and Patrick Wilson as Cinderella’s Prince. It isn’t known if any of those might make it to the movie.

Author James Lapine wrote the original book and is re-writing the screenplay, with Stephen Sondheim adding songs as they go along. It isn’t clear when the movie might shoot.