Kyle Milner
Robert Zemeckis’ fresh new take on the classic children’s novel The Witches is going full steam ahead.
Principal photography on the latest adaptation of Roald Dahl’s 1983 novel is now underway to meet its scheduled theatrical release date of October 16, 2020. Additionally, Stanley Tucci and Chris Rock will be joining previously announced cast members Anne Hathaway, Octavia Spencer, Jahzir Kadeem Bruno and Codie-Lei Eastick.
This isn’t the first time Dahl’s novel has found its way onto the big screen. Nicolas Roeg’s 1990 adaptation was a critical success and starred Anjelica Huston as the Grand High Witch, whose nefarious plans are interfered with by a young boy after he and his grandmother accidentally uncover her secret society of witches.
The new adaptation appears to be fairly faithful, with Anne Hathaway taking over as the Grand High Witch – except for a key difference. Penned by Guillermo Del Toro, Kenya Barris and Zemeckis, the screenplay will shift the story’s setting to rural Alabama in the late 1960s, according to Business Wire.
The Witches is Zemeckis’ latest project since the release of Welcome to Marwen in 2018.
