On Tuesday, we reported Tom Hardy was being courted for SNOW WHITE AND THE HUNSTMAN, now we can say its Johnny Depp’s turn in the casting hot seat. Also on the casting list we hear is Charlize Theron to play the evil stepmother , Ravenna.
The Wrap is reporting that producer Joe Roth is in talks with his ALICE IN WONDERLAND star to re-team on the Universal tent pole picture. At this point its only a rumor but it would be another marvelous quirky fit for the actor. The revisionist take on the classic fairy tale marks the feature directorial debut of director Rupert Sanders, who will be working from a buzzworthy spec script by Evan Daugherty.
The story features an expanded role for the Huntsman, who in the original story lets Snow White go after being ordered to kill her in the woods. In Daugherty’s script, the Huntsman is haunted by a white wolf that killed his wife, and there’s a pervasive sadness about the character that makes the void in his life feel quite real. He’ll be chained to Snow White for part of the live-action movie as the duo make their escape from a pair of bounty hunters. The Huntsman then serves as a mentor who teaches the teenage Snow White how to fight against her evil step-mother, Ravenna. And don’t worry — a handsome prince is still the love interest.
This is all speculation but Depp might be incredibly busy with publicity junkets for many of his films that are opening soon (RANGO, THE TOURIST and the fourth PIRATES film) so there is a possibility he will be unavailable. Depp is also linked to a few other projects floating around town right now including Tim Burton’s DARK SHADOWS, Gore Verbinski’s THE LONE RANGER, Rob Marshall’s remake of THE THIN MAN, and several more projects. Plus, how much would you like to bet his name will be floated as a possible replacement candidate for Robert Downey Jr. in GRAVITY?!
Universal is looking to start production on the project in January, and its been said Depp does have a small window of availability around that time. The studio announced on Friday that it plans to release the film on Dec. 21, 2012, and the holiday release proves that it’s a high priority for Universal.
