The promotional materials for Rob Marshall’s Into The Woods have so far not so much hidden as obscured the idea that the new film, adapted from Stephen Sondheim’s stage musical actually contains music itself. The trailers have yet to include any of the songs, but a new featurette lets the cast show off their pipes at last.
Riffing on the stories of the Brothers Grimm, Into The Woods is about a childless baker who attempts to lift a family curse by journeying woods-ward to confront Meryl Streep's harpy. Along the way they encounter classic characters like Rapunzel, Cinderella, Jack (of beanstalk notoriety) and Red Riding Hood, played by newcomer Lilla Crawford.
James Corden is the Baker, with Emily Blunt as his wife, Anna Kendrick as Cinderella, Chris Pine as Cinders' handsome prince, a furry Johnny Depp as the Big Bad Wolf, Mackenzie Mauzy as Rapunzel, Annette Crosbie as Grandma, Daniel Huttlestone as Jack, Frances de la Tour as the Giant and Tracey Ullman as Jack's mother.
As the likes of Streep and Blunt explain, the story blends the various fairy tales into something new as everyone heads into the trees to seek what they wish – love, magic, you name it. With any luck, any new trailers will let the film fly its musical flag. Into The Woods will arrive in the US on Christmas Day and heads over here on January 9, 2015.