Roald Dahl’s The Witches (Robert Zemeckis)

[Cremildo]

"Robert Zemeckis is in final negotiations to direct Warner Bros.’ adaptation of Roald Dahl’s classic book “The Witches,” studio sources tell Variety.

Sources say a deal is expected shortly. Zemeckis will also pen the script, with his partner Jack Rapke producing through their banner ImageMovers, along with Alfonso Cuaron and Guillermo del Toro. Del Tor had long been attached to direct, but a scheduling conflict led the Oscar winner to vacate the director’s chair.

Based on the 1973 novel, the film follows a seven-year-old boy who has a run in with real-life witches. Warner Bros. had previously adapted the book in 1990 with Anjelica 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." SOURCE

[CelluloidPal]

I haven't read the original novel but more familiar with Nicholas Roeg's film version so I can't tell the difference in terms of the source material.

Zemeckis will get it done here and I have no doubt about it.

[Michael24]

If it means finally getting the original on Blu-ray, I'm all for it. Never read the book but love the 1990 film. Will be interested to see what Zemeckis does.

[imsounoriginal]

I remember liking the book and I like Zemeckis, but not getting excited for this. Dunno why, just not feeling it.

[shinobipopcorn]

Anyone else I'd say no way, but Zemeckis is a solid director and I think he's a good choice.

The original is always going to be a favorite, though. I was never one of those who flipped their lids over the change from the book ending. Plus it was Jim Henson's last movie, that makes it a little special.

[Monterey Jack]

Just so long as there's NO MOCAP. Still can't believe Zemeckis wasted a decade of his career on that crap...

[CelluloidPal]

Originally Posted by Monterey Jack

Just so long as there's NO MOCAP. Still can't believe Zemeckis wasted a decade of his career on that crap...

I think it's safe to say that he's abandoned that.

[Hoke Moseley]

Interested to see who they cast...

[ArrestedDevelopment]

Read the book countless times as a kid. Loved the movie with Anjelica Huston. Looking forward to this.

[esteban²]

Wow ... I don't know how to feel about this. As a fan of Dahl and the original movie, I'm not sure I'm ready for a CGI-version of this. We'll see. I'm open for the idea.

[Foggy]

Roeg > Zemeckis.

[robgmun]

Originally Posted by esteban²

Wow ... I don't know how to feel about this. As a fan of Dahl and the original movie, I'm not sure I'm ready for a CGI-version of this. We'll see. I'm open for the idea.

I'm open to this but no idea how they're going to improve on the 1990 movie, it was perfect in every way even the SFX looks amazing now and i doubt CGI will look better

They would have to completely "re-imagine" the story

[esteban²]

Agreed.

[Lutz]

Yeah the original movie was a pretty faithful adaption from the book with the exception that they changed the end (in the book

[Show spoiler]he stays a mouse and they hatch a plot to exterminate all witches.

). I can't think of anything from the book that was left out of the original movie?

Like Michael24 said: at least this means we might get the original on blu ray.

[NeoVisionist]

Big fan of the book as a kid, can't remember how it ended though apart from the obvious (the baddies lose, the goodies win... I think?).

Never seen the 1990 edition. Hopefully they release it and I will.

So this Zemeckis' will be CGI? meh...

[Stevie81]

Originally Posted by Lutz

Yeah the original movie was a pretty faithful adaption from the book with the exception that they changed the end (in the book

[Show spoiler]he stays a mouse and they hatch a plot to exterminate all witches.

). I can't think of anything from the book that was left out of the original movie?

Like Michael24 said: at least this means we might get the original on blu ray.

There were a few more tales of Witches antics at the start of the book and I’m pretty sure Luke’s (never named in the book) parents are already dead

The purple eye detection method was also for the film.

I’d also like to add that Huston’s performance in this movie is almost peerless from a female lead villain perspective. She is absolutely terrifying. Equally so when I was 9 and now.

Remake oughta not bother!

[Mistress9]

I don't think they can pull it off.

[mpstjohn]

Originally Posted by NeoVisionist

Big fan of the book as a kid, can't remember how it ended though apart from the obvious (the baddies lose, the goodies win... I think?).

If there was one thing I’m glad they changed between the original story and the film it was the downbeat ending. The story’s ending was pretty umm let’s say downbeat,

[Show spoiler]Luke is never turned back into a boy and is resigned to the fact mice don’t live long and he’ll die with his grandmom

, over which Dahl was furious they went with an upbeat ending instead for the film.

I’m hoping the ending here is reasonably happy whatever it is.

[Stevie81]

Dahl rarely liked adaptations of his books but I’m sure was happy enough to take a slice of the profits

He backed himself into a corner because he was a ‘childrens’ author who did horrible things to children in his books, this does not transfer to a kids movie. The studio had no choice but to change the ending if it is to have mainstream success. If he stays a mouse he has a very short life and then dies...in short, the witches succeed in destroying his life. It works in the book fine and is explained well enough (he and his grandmother will die together) but in the movie, He MUST be changed back! It’s a kids movie essentially and it has to end on a high note and I think it’s done very well

[Cremildo]

Robert Zemeckis Confirms Previous Reports 'The Witches' Is Set In The American South During The 1960s

Originally Posted by Robert Zemeckis

Yeah, we’re gonna set in the Goth South in the 1960s. That’s an exciting way to put a sociological spin on this traditional witch story.