‘Into the Woods’ Trailer: The Beloved Musical Gets a Non-Musical Sneak Peek
'Into the Woods' isn't just Disney's big Christmas Day release this year and it isn't just one of the more impressive ensembles assembled for a fantasy film. It's the long-awaited big-screen version of Stephen Sondheim's beloved musical of the same name ... which makes it all the more baffling that the first 'Into the Woods' trailer does everything in its power to hide the fact that this movie is a musical. There is not a single sung word in all 107 seconds.
Directed by Rob Marshall, who has musical pedigree with 'Chicago' and Disney pedigree with the fourth 'Pirates of the Caribbean' movie, the story revolves around a baker and his wife who head into the woods to remove a curse that's been placed on their family. Along the way, they bump into all kinds of familiar fairy tale characters. The idea of combining Little Red Riding Hood, Jack and the Beanstalk, and others into one story may seem fairly standard in our modern mash-up culture, but Sondheim was doing it nearly 30 years ago and no one has managed to top it.
But c'mon! Where are the songs? This 'Into the Woods' trailer seems more interested in showcasing the truly impressive cast rather than previewing their musical abilities. Then again, when you have Meryl Streep, Johnny Depp, Emily Blunt, Anna Kendrick and Chris Pine headlining your movie, that's probably not a bad thing to spotlight.
Here's the official synopsis:
'Into the Woods' is a humorous and heartfelt musical that follows the classic tales of Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood, Jack and the Beanstalk, and Rapunzel—all tied together by an original story involving a baker and his wife, their wish to begin a family and their interaction with the witch who has put a curse on them.
'Into the Woods' will arrive in theaters on December 25.