HOLLYWOOD — Rob Marshall, who directed Disney’s “Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides,” is set to direct a film adaptation of the Broadway musical “Into the Woods,” featuring Stephen Sondheim’s original music.
The film for The Walt Disney Studios will be produced by Marshall and John DeLuca through their production company Lucamar Productions. James Lapine, who wrote the stage musical with Stephen Sondheim, will adapt it for the screen.
“We are thrilled to be collaborating with Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine on this extraordinary and inspiring work,” said Rob Marshall and John DeLuca. “We are greatly looking forward to continuing our creative and rewarding relationship with Rich Ross, Sean Bailey and the ever supportive team at Disney.”
“Rob Marshall brought his signature flair to ‘Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides’ with tremendous results and he is the perfect person to bring ‘Into the Woods’ to the screen,” Studio Chairman Rich Ross and President of Production Sean Bailey said in a statement. “We’ve loved working with Rob, and this is a great start to our collaboration with Lucamar.”
“Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides,” which earned over $1 billion at the global box office and is the #8 highest grossing film of all time, was the first “Pirates” film to be shot in 3D and the first major production at any studio to be shot in 3D on location. Marshall’s stage musical adaptation “Chicago” (2002) grossed over $300 million worldwide and was nominated for 13 Academy Awards, winning six including best picture, with Marshall earning a nomination for best director. His other feature films include “Memoirs of a Geisha” (2005), winner of three Academy Awards, and “Nine” (2009), which was nominated for four Academy Awards and five Golden Globes. Marshall is a four-time Emmy Award winner and a six-time Tony Award nominee, including choreographing and co-directing the 1998 Broadway revival of “Cabaret.”
“Into the Woods” weaves together the story of several of the most beloved fairytales (Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood, Jack and the Beanstalk, Rapunzel) into the original story of a Baker and his wife who try to reverse a curse on their family in order to have a child, exploring the consequences of the characters’ wishes and quests and their desire for “happily ever after.”