Back in November, I had reported at OmegaUnderground some exclusive plot details about Robert Zemeckis’ upcoming remake of Roald Dahl’s The Witches for Warner Bros. Those details included specific stuff like the young male lead being played by an African-American actor along with the setting taking place in Alabama during 1969.
Omega Underground has a new plot detail to share about Robert Zemeckis’ remake of The Witches which will be taking place in Alabama instead of the United Kingdom. The era of the film will be taking place during the year 1969.
Previously, we reported that the male lead (unlikely to be named Luke) and his grandmother would be played by African-American actors. Also, his pet mouse Daisy will be a girl that had been previously turned into a mouse by a Witch. Burno will also complete the trio who once the boys are turned into mice will team-up with Daisy to take down the Witches’ plot to turn all the children of the world into mice.
Well, French film outlet Allocine has been able to speak with the director about his upcoming adaptation and he confirmed these details reported over the fall to them during their one-on-one interview. Although, Robert is being a little vaguer than we were.
“Yeah, we’re gonna set in the Goth South in the 1960s. That’s an exciting way to put a sociological spin on this traditional witch story.”
Production is said to be eyeing a start in April in the United Kingdom (possibly also Georgia/Alabama) and Anne Hathaway had been mentioned by trades as a contender for the film, possibly for the role of The Grand High Witch previously played by Anjelica Huston in the original 1990 film.
The casting announcements should be coming very shortly if they do indeed play on filming as early as April.
Warner Bros. has yet to give The Witches an official release date but sometime in 2020 would make sense. The studio is also developing a Willy Wonka prequel/origin film with Paddington/Pinocchio director Paul King.
SOURCE: OMEGA UNDERGROUND & ALLOCINE
