(Excerpts) Read More at: ComingSoon.net and DailyMail.co.uk
Octavia Spencer is ‘in talks’ to join Anne Hathaway in Robert Zemeckis’ darker remake of The Witches due out next year, according to Variety.
Spencer, who has starred in award-winning movies such as The Shape of Water, Hidden Figures, and The Help, and executive-produced the Oscar-nominated film Green Book, will play the grandmother of Bruno’s character. Eastick will portray the other boy who has a run-in with the Witches.
Zemeckis will also pen the script for the adaptation and will produce with partner Jack Rapke, having previously collaborated on a number of films together. Academy Award winners Alfonso Cuaron (The Revenant, Gravity) and Guillermo del Toro (The Shape of Water, Pan’s Labyrinth) will produce as well, with del Toro having previously been attached to direct. The Oscar-winning Zemeckis is currently at work on his next film, Welcome to Marwen, starring Steve Carell.
Hathaway has quite a challenge upstaging Angelica Huston, who endured a painful, eight-hour process of applying prosthetic make-up in order to transform into Ms. Ernst aka ‘Hitler for children.’
Muppet creator Jim Henson executive produced The Witches and his company crafted the special effects, but he tragically died, aged 53, of toxic shock syndrome two weeks before the release.
The critically-acclaimed movie – which only earned $15.3M at the global box office – also featured Rowan Atkinson, Jane Horrocks, Jasen Fisher, and Charlie Potter.