Meryl Streep has told one story a few times, about how right around her 40th birthday, she was offered three different “witch” roles. She talked about how she felt like it was a signal about how Hollywood treats women over 40: they’re either playing moms or witches. Well, Anne Hathaway is only 36 years old. And she’s already being offered witch roles. Which witch? The remake of The Witches, based on Roald Dahl’s famous kids’ book of the same name. The original adaptation of the book was made in 1990, with a *checks Meryl’s math* nearly 40-year-old Anjelica Huston in the lead role.
Anne Hathaway has closed a deal to star as the Grand High Witch in Robert Zemeckis and Warner Bros.’ “The Witches” adaptation. Variety first reported that Hathaway was holding the offer for both that and “Sesame Street,” and at the time, scheduling for both films were holding up dealmaking. With those issues settled, Hathaway is now set to star in the role originally portrayed by Anjelica Huston in the 1990 classic.
Based on the 1973 novel, the film follows a 7-year-old boy who has a run in with real-life witches. Warner Bros. had previously adapted the book in 1990 with Huston playing one of the title characters, but sources close to the project say Zemeckis’ version will be more rooted in the original source material, while the Huston pic was a loose adaptation. Zemeckis will also pen the script as well as produce with his partner Jack Rapke through their banner ImageMovers, along with Alfonso Cuaron and Guillermo del Toro.
I honestly don’t remember much about the book other than the fact that I read it a million times when I was a kid. I know I saw the movie at some point too but I guess I forgot it. I imagine that this probably will be closer to the source material (Dahl’s classic book) and I imagine it will have tons of CGI. But I’m still hung up on the fact that Anne Hathaway is only 36 and she’s already getting witch roles.
Oh lord I forgot about her Golden Globes dress.
Photos courtesy of Avalon Red, WENN.
I looooved the book, read it over and over. Maybe I’ll read it again before the movie comes out!
Roald Dahl movie adaptations are cursed. They almost never make money. Good luck to Anne though, she was the best part of Oceans 8.
I think so too.I only saw Oceans 8 recently and she was the best – couldn’t bear Sandra Bullock ( I think she did some work done for this comeback and it feels like she is wearing expressionless mask whole movie ( no facial movements) and even talking is too painful )
Good lord, we’ve truly run out of original ideas.
And AnnE will bring her usual kiss of death to the film. 🙄
lol tell that to all her successful film ventures. snarky much? just checked her imdb 19 of her like 25 films went on to great success (getting sequels as well). If you dont like anne just say it but dont make her out to be an utter failure
@hmm Anne is that you ???? LOL
I loved that movie, loved loved loved it. I also read the book but remember the movie a lot better.
I saw the movie before reading the book. I was six or seven when the movie came out and it was really scary to me but after seeing it again when I was older I appreciated how frightening it was! Anne Hathaway will have a hard time filling Anjelica Huston’s shoes as she was so menacing in that role. I just don’t see Anne Hathaway having the gravitas for the part but she’s a good actress so hopefully, she’ll surprise me.
That movie traumatized me. It’s the scariest children’s movie of all time.
I see your bet of The Witches and raise you The Dark Crystal. I watched WAY too many adult age films as a kid (Alien, for example), with zero issues. Tha Dark Crystal?? Still cannot watch it.
I loved both The Witches and Dark Crystal. They both were super scary, but I think the Witches terrified me more. They wanted to kill children, so that put it over the edge!
She’s perfect for this role, I can’t wait!
To this day I still side eye anyone in square-toed shoes… if they itch their head too, I immediately suspect a witch.
I think she will be great. I love that book, I read it to my kids last summer and my six year-old still gets the giggles every time I do my Grand High Witch accent. Also, just wanted to point out that in the book, the Grand High Witch wears a mask so that she looks like a beautiful, young woman, so I don’t think the “witch” role is necessarily a knock against Anne Hathaway or her age. I will definitely go see this when it comes out!
I absolutEly loved the movie as child (bit scary but awesome)
Years later read the book.Now my son is nearly 5 and we rediscover it in shop again and it’s his favourite too(tried to watch movie but the witch conference was too scary for him) could not understand the feet thing lol either
But honestly as soon as I read the news about remake I was thrilled- I’m looking forward to it and think AH will be great in it.