Disney Enters Awards Race With 'Into the Woods'
Though ' Into the Woods' debuted in 1986, it's 'a fairy tale for the post-9/11 generation,' said director Rob Marshall at a Q&A in New York after a screening of the film.
The panel session took place at the DGA Theater in New York and was satellite-fed to the Disney main theater in Burbank, a two-birds-with-one-stone approach as the film begins industry screenings for awards contention.
The director and his team of artisans will certainly be under Oscar consideration, as will Meryl Streep (top billed, but in a supporting role) and other performers. Variety will run its review in December; after that, there will be more opportunities to handicap the film's awards chances in specific categories.
Disney often takes a cautious approach to the awards race, but the studio execs seem gung-ho about this one. The film also marks a subtle shift for the studio. Its 'Maleficent' earlier this year and the TV series 'Once Upon a Time' (on the Disney-owned ABC) offer an alternative view of fairy tales. 'Woods' takes that further and deeper, serving notice that 'children's stories' are not just about the Disney Princess line of merchandise. As Marshall said, the musical is about what happens after 'happily ever after.'
Marshall said he thought the message of the musical, that no one is alone, was more timely than ever. 'Kids today live in a world much more unstable and fragile than when I grew up.'
Streep offered a variation of that, saying kids today have returned to a time when they're more aware of everything. 'We lived for a halcyon moment in the '50s and '60s,' when kids were protected from harsh reality, but now they see everything and know 'the world is full of darkness and joy.' They're much more aware, but much more resilient.
Among others taking part in the Q&A was writer James Lapine, who adapted the script from the stage musical he co-created with Stephen Sondheim. The composer wasn't there, though Streep read a note from him saying he was 'laid low by a virus.'
The film opens Dec. 25. The Q&A was also streamed live on Yahoo! Movies.
Follow @Variety on Twitter for breaking news, reviews and more
Post a Comment for "Disney Enters Awards Race With 'Into the Woods'"