Kenneth Branagh’s Cinderella

[The Mad Kiwi]

Helena Bonham Carter's been cast as the Fairy Godmother

Now, I can see this working if they're going for a off-kilter type of fairy godmother, one that's frumpy and not all together there. I can actually see that working well. What really shocks me about this is that Kenneth Branagh's Carter's ex-husband. I never in a million years thought they'd work together again. I wonder if it was Disney that pushed for this since they've used her in Alice in Wonderland and The Lone Ranger. I was rooting for Emma Thompson in the role, but I'm very curious to see how this pans out.

[akayw0718]

Originally Posted by The Mad Kiwi

Helena Bonham Carter's been cast as the Fairy Godmother

Now, I can see this working if they're going for a off-kilter type of fairy godmother, one that's frumpy and not all together there. I can actually see that working well. What really shocks me about this is that Kenneth Branagh's Carter's ex-husband. I never in a million years thought they'd work together again. I wonder if it was Disney that pushed for this since they've used her in Alice in Wonderland and The Lone Ranger. I was rooting for Emma Thompson in the role, but I'm very curious to see how this pans out.

Hmm. Hmm.

I'm thinking no...

I love Helena as an actress, but I just.

I wanted Kathy Bates or Helen Mirren.

[yeslek]

odd choice - either going to be a huge fail or work out surprisingly well

[The Mad Kiwi]

The film now has a March 13, 2015 release date.

This makes a lot more sense than the proposed late-2014 release since it would've meant Disney having two Cinderellas competing at the box office (this film and Into the Woods). Hopefully the film finds success in the March slot. Its budget shouldn't be as enormous as Alice in Wonderland's, John Carter's, or Oz: The Great and Powerful's. A tidy $80 million or so should be more than enough for it unless they're somehow revamping the story to become a special effects extravaganza outside of the key transformation scene.

[moonstruck]

Originally Posted by The Mad Kiwi

Helena Bonham Carter's been cast as the Fairy Godmother

Now, I can see this working if they're going for a off-kilter type of fairy godmother, one that's frumpy and not all together there. I can actually see that working well. What really shocks me about this is that Kenneth Branagh's Carter's ex-husband. I never in a million years thought they'd work together again. I wonder if it was Disney that pushed for this since they've used her in Alice in Wonderland and The Lone Ranger. I was rooting for Emma Thompson in the role, but I'm very curious to see how this pans out.

Emma Thompson is Kenneth Branagh's ex-wife. Branagh and Helena Bonham Carter made Frankenstein together. Regardless, HBC will be fun in this role.

[The Mad Kiwi]

Originally Posted by moonstruck

Emma Thompson is Kenneth Branagh's ex-wife. Branagh and Helena Bonham Carter made Frankenstein together. Regardless, HBC will be fun in this role.

You're right. I thought Carter and Branagh were briefly married, but they merely dated and lived together around the time of his divorce with Thompson.

In more news, Sophie McShera has been cast as the other stepsister.

[The Mad Kiwi]

Stellan Skarsgard is in talks to play the Grand Duke.

It's interesting to me that the article mentions the Grand Duke having ulterior motives. I guess he's going to be sharing the villain spot with Blanchett's stepmother character. I wonder if the two will join forces to keep Cinderella and the prince apart.

It looks like the only major part left is the king, and I wouldn't be surprised if they got someone notable for that based on how they're approaching the rest of the casting. I still say that if they're going to make him similar to Disney's animated one, Ray Winstone or Brendan Gleeson would be perfect.

[RachellovesLOTR]

I'll give this one a watch for Cate Blanchett. I think she did a great job in the lotr triology. I've never heard of the other cast members

[zafisher94]

Can't say I'm excited about this, or any Disney animated film being done in live action by them. I personally enjoy my fairy tale stories to be animated, but I guess I'll be checking this out along with Maleficent. I just don't see the need when the animated versions will always be the definitive one.

[The Mad Kiwi]

Hayley Atwell has been cast as Cinderella's biological mother at the beginning of the film.

[ForEver Blu]

You're right. I thought Carter and Branagh were briefly married, but they merely dated and lived together around the time of his divorce with Thompson.



As I recall, Branaugh's affair with HBC ended the marriage to Emma Thompson.

[The Mad Kiwi]

Filming has officially begun, and with it, two new casting announcements and our first photo. Derek Jacobi will be playing the King while Nonso Anonzie will play the Captain of the guards who's also the Prince's best friend.

And here's our first production still depicting Cinderella riding who I assume to be Major the horse:



And here's the official press release:

DISNEY’S LIVE ACTION “CINDERELLA”
BEGINS PRINCIPAL PHOTOGRAPHY IN LONDON

Starring Lily James, Richard Madden, Academy Award®-winner Cate Blanchett and Oscar®-nominee Helena Bonham Carter and Directed by Academy Award®-nominee Kenneth Branagh

Burbank, Calif. (September 23, 2013)—Walt Disney Pictures announced today that principal photography has begun at Pinewood Studios in London, on “Cinderella,” Disney’s first-ever live action feature inspired by the classic fairy tale.

Directed by Academy Award®-nominee Kenneth Branagh (“Jack Ryan,” “Thor”), the film stars Lily James (“Downton Abbey,” “Wrath of the Titans”) in the title role, Richard Madden (“Game of Thrones,” “Birdsong”) as the Prince, Oscar®-winner Cate Blanchett (“The Aviator”) as the infamous stepmother Lady Tremaine, and Academy Award-nominee Helena Bonham Carter (“The King’s Speech,” “Alice in Wonderland”) as the Fairy Godmother. Holliday Grainger (“Great Expectations,” “Anna Karenina”) and Sophie McShera (“Downton Abbey,” “Waterloo Road”) play Ella’s stepsisters Anastasia and Drisella, respectively. Stellan Skarsgård (“The Avengers,” “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo”) and Nonso Anozie (“Game of Thrones,” “The Grey”) play the Arch Grand Duke and the Prince’s loyal friend, the Captain. Tony® Award-winner Derek Jacobi portrays the King.

“Cinderella” is produced by Simon Kinberg (“X-Men: First Class,” “Elysium”), Allison Shearmur (“The Hunger Games: Catching Fire”), David Barron (“Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows,” “Jack Ryan”), from a screenplay by Chris Weitz (“About a Boy,” “The Golden Compass”).

The filmmaking team includes three-time Academy Award-winning production designer Dante Ferretti (“The Aviator,” “Hugo,” “Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street”), three-time Oscar-winning costume designer Sandy Powell (“The Aviator,” “The Young Victoria,” “Shakespeare in Love”), director of photography Haris Zambarloukos (“Sleuth,” “Thor”) and Academy Award-winning editor Martin Walsh (“Chicago,” “Clash of the Titans”).

The timeless story of “Cinderella” dates back to 1697 when first created by Charles Perrault, although it truly came to life for millions all over the world in 1950 with Walt Disney’s celebrated animated feature.

Director Kenneth Branagh says: “It is impossible to think of Cinderella without thinking of Disney and the timeless images we’ve all grown up watching. And those classic moments are irresistible to a filmmaker. With Lily James we have found our perfect Cinderella. She combines knockout beauty with intelligence, wit, fun and physical grace. Her Prince is being played by Richard Madden, a young actor with incredible power and charisma. He is funny, smart and sexy and a great match for Cinderella.”

The story of “Cinderella” follows the fortunes of young Ella whose merchant father remarries following the tragic death of her mother. Keen to support her loving father, Ella welcomes her new stepmother Lady Tremaine and her daughters Anastasia and Drisella into the family home. But, when Ella’s father suddenly and unexpectedly passes away, she finds herself at the mercy of a jealous and cruel new family. Finally relegated to nothing more than a servant girl covered in ashes, and spitefully renamed Cinderella, Ella could easily begin to lose hope. Yet, despite the cruelty inflicted upon her, Ella is determined to honor her mother’s dying words and to “have courage and be kind.” She will not give in to despair nor despise those who abuse her. And then there is the dashing stranger she meets in the woods. Unaware that he is really a prince, not merely an employee at the Palace, Ella finally feels she has met a kindred soul. It appears as if her fortunes may be about to change when the Palace sends out an open invitation for all maidens to attend a ball, raising Ella’s hopes of once again encountering the charming “Kit.” Alas, her stepmother forbids her to attend and callously rips apart her dress. But, as in all good fairy tales, help is at hand as a kindly beggar woman steps forward and, armed with a pumpkin and a few mice, changes Cinderella’s life forever.

Production on “Cinderella” will take place at Pinewood Studios and locations throughout England.

“Cinderella” will be released through Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures on March 13, 2015.

[EricJ]

Originally Posted by The Mad Kiwi

And then there is the dashing stranger she meets in the woods. Unaware that he is really a prince, not merely an employee at the Palace, Ella finally feels she has met a kindred soul.

Aww, Disney gonna change their own remake?
And here I was wondering who was going to play the psychotically violent king/dad who pushes the Prince into marrying.

[yeslek]

sounds more like sleeping beauty plagiarism with the meeting in the woods

[The Mad Kiwi]

An exclusive trailer was screened at CinemaCon this week. Different articles have focused on different aspects of it, so I pieced them all together here for the sake convenience. Description under the spoiler:

[Show spoiler]The preview opens up with a narrator stating, "Once upon a time, there was a child named Ella." We see a very young Ella having a picnic with her parents. Cut to the family inside their large manor. The mother faints in the library and is caught by the father. Cut back to the field the family had their picnic in, only now it's just Ella and her father dressed in black.

An older Ella (Lily James) stands in the hallway and welcomes the arrival of her stepmother, Lady Tremaine (Cate Blanchett). Tremaine walks in wearing black and gold, a large Victorian hat atop her head (apparently most of her outfits are accompanied at large hats, some of which are reminiscent of the 1940s). She has her cat, Lucier, on a leash, and the cat haughtily flicks its paw at Ella. A montage of her and her daughters, Anastasia (Holliday Grainger) and Drizella (Sophie McShera), follows. We see them in various elaborate costumes, and most of Anastasia and Drizella's outfits follow the color scheme of pink for Anastasia and yellow for Drizella. Tremaine is seen in a leopard-print dress at one point.

Ella's father goes away on a trip, and a messenger arrives at the house to break the news that he died in a carriage accident. Cut to a montage of Ella doing chores covered in soot. The servant bells ring. Drizella sees Ella's appearance and says with a laugh, "Cinderella! That's what we'll call you!"

Cinderella rides away into the woods on her horse, Major, and runs into Prince Charming. He tells she shouldn't be alone in the forest, but she notes that she's technically not alone. We later see the Prince practicing his fencing with his best friend, the captain of the guards (Nonso Anonzie).

An announcement is made about the Prince throwing a ball, and we see the stepsisters eagerly prepare as Lady Tremaine looks on. Cinderella comes down the stairs excitedly in a dress belonging to her mother. Tremaine forbids her from coming and rips the shoulder strap. The stepsisters follow suit until the dress is reduced to tatters. CG mice in jackets watch all this from the stairs.

Running to the garden, Cinderella cries and is approached by what appears to be an old beggar woman in rags (Helena Bonham Carter). The woman reveals herself to be Ella's fairy godmother, transforming herself into a far younger woman with shoulder-length blonde curls and wide eyes. The two of them search for a suitable vegetable to transform into a coach as the Godmother rattles off various foods that can work (many of which Ella's never even heard of). They finally find a pumpkin, and the Godmother transforms it into a golden, ornate carriage. Cinderella's torn dress is transformed into a ballgown whose design is inspired by the animated film, but with embroidery and beads on the bodice and in a deep blue color rather than silver. Her hair, rather than an updo, is loose, curly, and covered in glitter.

Cut to the The Prince's palace. It's massive and features highly detailed production design and elaborate costumes by way of the subjects. Fireworks fill the sky as Cinderella arrives. The Prince doesn't recognize her and is so smitten that when asking her to dance, he is unable to finish asking the question. As they dance, Cinderella notices everyone in the room has stopped what they're doing. "Are they all looking at you?" she asks. "No, I'm fairly certain they're all looking at you," he replies.

The general consensus seems to be that this is essentially the Disney film on a large scale and with an expanded storyline. That may come across as a criticism, but people who've seen the footage say it's very impressive and unlike any live-action fantasy Disney's done. There's already predictions going around for Oscar nominations for costume design, production design, and art direction with the visuals being described as very Merchant of Venice-like with lots of jewel tones added in. The tone has been described as very sincere and earnest.

The mention of CG mice in vests surprises me since I didn't think that would carry over from the animated film, but it (thankfully) doesn't seem like there will be Tom and Jerry antics. They don't even speak, so the clothing thing might just this movie's way of tipping the hat to the 1950 film by having Cindy knit for them as a hobby.

[detective392]

Disney's Cinderella Official Teaser Trailer - YouTube

[rikraq]

Well, that told us nothing.

[Tony208]

Originally Posted by detective392

Disney's Cinderella Official Teaser Trailer - YouTube

Where's the price tag on that Thought I was watching a QVC spot.

[blonde_devil]

Now this is a new one - a studio remaking one of thier animated movies into a live action one. Bet that is the new trend down the road - instead of just remaking them, they are going to remake animated films into live action and live action into animated.

[jscoggins]

The least they could've done was to make the story from another character's perspective, along the lines of Maleficent.

We already got a live action version not too long ago.

Ever After Trailer (Good Quality) - YouTube