Johnny Depp to topline “Into the Woods” Disney musical

PanARMENIAN.Net - Johnny Depp is in talks to star in Disney's film adaptation of Broadway musical Into the Woods, The Hollywood Reporter said.

The film would mark Depp's first singing role since starring in Tim Burton's Sweeney Todd: The Demon of Fleet Street.

The project would also reunite Depp with Rob Marshall, who directed Disney’s fourth Pirates of the Caribbean outing. In addition to his Broadway credits as director and choreographer, Marshall directed the musical feature films Chicago and Nine, as well as the 1999 TV movie, Annie.

Into the Woods is a darkly comic mashup of classic fairy tales that revolves around a childless Baker and his wife, who attempt to lift a family curse by journeying into the woods to confront the Witch that put the spell on them. Along the way, they encounter a group of characters including Rapunzel, Cinderella and Little Red Riding Hood.

Meryl Streep will play the plum role of the vain and charismatic Witch. In what would be a key supporting role, Depp will play a hungry and sexy variation of the fairy tale Wolf, a part usually undertaken in the stage version by the same actor who plays Cinderella's Prince.

James Lapine wrote the screenplay, based on his book for the 1986 musical. The Tony-winning original score is by Stephen Sondheim, also the composer behind Sweeney Todd. Frequent Marshall collaborator David Krane is working on the music arrangements for the film.

The film would also keep Depp in the Disney fold. The actor, who has made a number of blockbusters with the studio, including the Pirates films and Burton's Alice, will next be seen in Disney's The Lone Ranger. Depp is currently shooting Wally Pfister's directing debut Transcendence.