It’s probably hard for you to imagine the gorgeous Anne Hathaway as a grotesquely ugly crone, but you’re going to see it soon enough. She’s been cast in the lead role of the Grand High Witch in The Witches, a remake if the 1990 film.
Hathaway steps into the role originally brought to life by the formidable Anjelica Huston. But in 1990, the Oscar winner had already proven her ability to play intimidating, frightening characters. Her beauty never kept her from being scary. It will be interesting to see if Hathaway – who started her career in family films and princess roles – will be able to be as convincing as a terrifying character as she is as a sweet one.
Meet your new Grand High Witch:
Anne Hathaway is starring in Robert Zemeckis’ #TheWitches remake https://t.co/bdSuMtD9Wn pic.twitter.com/QhgXZzWtlS— Variety (@Variety) January 16, 2019
For those too young to remember, The Witches is the story of a young boy who inadvertently discovers a coven. They have a nefarious plan to turn kids into mice, and decide to test it on the intruder. It’s based on the book by the legendary Roald Dahl, who had a knack for disguising depressing and horrifying tales as children’s stories. (Others include James and the Giant Peach, Matilda, and Charlie & The Chocolate Factory.)
This new version will be directed by Robert Zemeckis (whose previous achievements include Back to the Future, Forrest Gump, Castaway, and Polar Express), and produced by heavy hitters Guillermo del Toro and Alfonso Cuaron.
It’s not yet known when production will start on The Witches. A release date has not yet been announced, and no other roles are confirmed to have been cast at this time. So, while it’s clearly early days, it’s great to see that filmmakers have aimed high for the lead.
Are you glad to see Hathaway in this role? Who else would you like to see involved in the film? Tell us in the comments!