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If you go down to the woods...

14:00, 03 May 2013

Pirates Of The Caribbean: On Stranger Tides director Rob Marshall appears to have pulled another Pirates alumnus into his latest project, Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine’s fairytale-based musical Into The Woods. That person is Johnny Depp.

Rob Marshall has form with musicals, having directed and choreographed musicals on Broadway and helmed the Oscar-winning adaptation of Chicago. Depp is no stranger to the format either, having performed in Tim Burton’s Sweeney Todd, and if he does sign up he will play a childless baker who tries to lift a family curse by journeying into the woods with his wife to confront the witch who cursed them. So, uplifting AND realistic.

It’s likely to be a starry affair, mind, with Meryl Streep considering playing the witch. Along the way, other characters they encounter Rapunzel, Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood and other classic characters.

There’s no set date for shooting yet as everything is still up in the air, plus Marshall, who has also been developing a Thin Man remake with Depp, will have to wait for the actor to complete work on the various other projects he has on the go.

Remember Dodgeball? That comedy from almost 10 years ago with Ben Stiller and Vince Vaughn? 20th Century Fox and Stiller’s Red Hour company have commissioned a script for a sequel. Yay. I mean, we’ve all been clamouring for one forever. Anyway, it’s been rumoured for years and always seemed to be just a rumour, but this appears to be a real step forward. If you care. Which I don’t.

Marlon Brando starred in the original Guys and Dolls
Marlon Brando starred in the original Guys and Dolls

Another movie musical in the pipeline is a remake of Guys and Dolls. 20th Century Fox has been trying to secure the rights for years, and has finally been able to, and work is going to begin as soon as possible.

Channing Tatum
Channing Tatum

The main roles are going to be tough to fill, however, especially Frank Sinatra and Marlon Brando played the leads in the 1955 version.

Worryingly, Fox executives are pinning their hopes on Channing Tatum and Joseph Gordon-Levitt, instead of – say – hiring absolutely anyone else.

No official talks have started yet, although apparently both actors are interested. Unfortunately, time travel doesn’t exist, otherwise we’d all be able to go back a few decades and work together to make sure Mr and Mrs Tatum never met.

I’ve talked about Stephen King’s excellent book 11.22.63 before, because it’s been on and off. But current darling of the entertainment world J.J. Abrams has his eye on it, so it might just be on again.

Back before he made Cloverfield and Super 8, and took over the Star Wars and Star Trek movies, he worked in TV, and he’s now in talks to adapt King’s JFK book as a cable TV series. 11.22.63 tells the story of a divorced teacher Jake who comes across a diner housing a portal to the past.

Instead of betting on certain celebrities turning out to be wrong ’uns, he embarks on an ambitious plan to change history by saving JFK from assassination. However, because Jake arrives in 1958 he has a bit of time to figure out if Lee Harvey Oswald is the man he needs to stop as well as embedding himself in mid-20th century life.

Robert Downey Jr. in Iron Man 3. Credit: PA Photo/Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
Robert Downey Jr. in Iron Man 3. Credit: PA Photo/Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

This isn’t the first time Abrams has considered tackling King – he attempted to turn The Dark Tower series into a film a few years ago, alongside Damon Lindelof in an effort that came to naught; as have all subsequent attempts. However, King’s work will definitely hit the small screen this year, as the series based on Under The Dome hits US TVs.

As part of Deaf Awareness Week, the Odeon cinema in Canterbury has some special subtitled screenings of some of the newest releases – Iron Man 3 and British kid’s talent show movie All Stars.

A subtitled film in support of DAW will be shown every day next week.

Check www.odeon.co.uk or call 01227 453577.

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