Into the Woods is one of the most successful musicals of all time. When it debuted back in 1986, there really wasn't anything like it. It was definitely composer Stephen Sondheim's style, but a large cast of well-known characters coming together from different stories didn't happen on stage very often. Where many shows would have used such a device as a gimmick or an excuse for a flimsy script, Into the Woods' cast of characters was integral to the plot. The show needed these characters, the message simply wouldn't have worked without it. So, the show became a major hit, and has been performed all over the world for decades.
With all that success, it's surprising that a film adaption of Into the Woods hasn't materialized until now. It makes sense that Disney is heading up the latest incarnation of the show, seeing how the company built its empire on musicals, but the studio definitely took its time. From the looks of things, it was worth the wait: judging by the latest trailer, the film is going to match the tone of the show perfectly.
It's not often a cast this good comes together for a project like this. Meryl Streep as the Witch obviously takes center stage in the trailer, but on top of that, there's Johnny Depp, Chris Pine and Anna Kendrick among others. When Disney says 'all-star cast,' they mean it.
What's surprising is that the film almost didn't happen, either. The earliest attempts to turn Into the Woods into a film took place back in the '90s, and it took another decade for Disney to begin production on its version. Filming took place throughout much of 2013, and rumors began to surface that the entirety of July was used for reshoots. Ultimately, the rumors were denied, and filming officially began in September 2013 and had wrapped by the end of November. Unfortunately for fans, Disney stuck by its original release date of Christmas...2014.
Despite over a year of post-production and waiting, Into the Woods is almost here: Disney's latest musical hits theaters on Dec. 25.
