Back in 1990,Nicolas Roegdirected an adaptation ofRoald Dahl’sThe Witches, a children’s dark fantasy tale about an orphaned boy who discovers that witches do indeed exist in his world. The Jim Henson Company production earned a BAFTA nomination forChristine Beveridge’s horrifyingly fantastic make-up work which transformedAnjelica Hustoninto the Grand High Witch. Roeg’s version changed quite a bit from Dahl’s 1983 tome, but the story will get another shot at the big screen now thatRobert Zemeckisis about to sign on as writer and director for Warner Bros.
Varietyreports that Zemeckis and the studio are in final negotiations for the Oscar-winner to direct the tale, with a deal expected to close soon. Zemeckis will write the script while also producing alongsideJack Rapkeas part of their ImageMovers banner;Alfonso CuaronandGuillermo del Torowill also produce. GDT was once on board as the director but scheduling conflicts got in the way. On tap for Zemeckis is the biographical dramaWelcome to Marwen(inspired by the documentaryMarwencol) set to arrive in theaters this Thanksgiving; expect a trailer sometime soon. [Update:As promised,here’s the trailer!]
As forThe Witches, Dahl’s 1983 novel will reportedly be more closely adapted with Warner Bros.' new adaptation. Roeg’s version changed the protagonist from a young British boy to an American one, though it remains to be seen if the strong Norwegian influence in the original tale will remain intact. The movie would come as a bit of a shift from Zemeckis' more recent adult dramas, moving back towards family-friendly flicks likeBack to the Future. There’s no word on whether this would be a live-action adaptation or an animated/motion-capture feature, but with Zemeckis' trailblazing efforts on films likeThe Polar Express,Beowulf, andA Christmas Carol, a CG flick is certainly in the realm of possibility. And having both Cuarón and del Toro in the picture is a big, big win for the dark fantasy side of things.
Are you a fan of Zemeckis and Dahl’sThe Witches? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!
