Cate Blanchett to play Lady Tremaine (the Wicked Stepmother) in live action remake of 'Cinderella?'

[beautywickedlover]

With the success of Tim Burton's 'Alice in Wonderland' the live action 'Sleeping Beauty' film, 'Maleficent' being released in 2014, Disney is going to make another fantasy story live action. Cate Blanchett is in early talks to play Lady Tremaine, the Wicked Stepmother, in a live-action remake of 'Cinderella'. The film will be directed by Mark Romanek and Chris Weitz has penned the script, while Simon Kinberg will be the producer on the project. I think Lady Tremaine is one of the most vile Disney characters of all-time and Blachett is a brilliant actress. I think she'll do an an excellent job.


ETA: It's been confirmed.






Cate Blanchett: Cinderella's Stepmother in Live Action Flick!

[Jungle Red]

What makes Lady Tremaine deliciously evil is that she has no magic powers but she's terrifying. Every time I watched it as a kid (which was a lot), the scene in the bedroom scared the **** out of me. Always. She's so evil it's amazing.

Cate will be perfect.

The problem with the Cinderella story is that there's not a lot of conflict. To make a great movie, they're going to have to do a lot of changes to the second act. I love Disney's Cinderella but as is, there's really not much to it. It's only 74 minutes.

Since it is one of those stories that has been told a million times, I'm excited to see what they'll do, but I also don't want to be upset.

I've always wanted to write a live version, too. Oh well.

[JerseyGirl2]

Exactly^. That scene is one of the most terrifying in Disney animation because she has no magic. She's just EVIL. That's why I immediately dismissed the recent sequel. She found magic and it killed the whole premise.

[Jordan Catalano]

I would never watch those awful sequels. But as for Cate, I can't image any single person being better suited for this role. EXCITING!!!!!

But I do wonder how they'll do the mice....

[Wynbish]

She had moments as Galadriel where she was definitely creepy. I think she would be so subtly sinister that it would work.

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

She's perfect for the role, and I agree with everyone else, she's scary because she's purely evil and vicious. She's also smart and manipulative in ways that some of the other villains aren't, Blanchett will be perfect and she'll have fun with it I'm sure.

[Wynbish]

Anjelica Huston did a great job with it in Ever After

[Jungle Red]

Its also Ms Huston.

As far as the mice and the cat go, I imagine a lot of CGI or restructuring.

I can't imagine real mice looking adorable though.

[beautywickedlover]

Here's an interesting article about female Oscar winners playing fairy tale villains.


Cate, Angelina, Charlize -- Why Oscar winners know 'Evil Queen' is the way to go

[TheLadyoftheWood]

I am loving this already! Just say Cate's name and I am there.

[beautywickedlover]

Saoirse Ronan, Gabriella Wilde, and Alicia Vikander are all up for the role of 'Cinderella'.


Disney Eyes Saoirse Ronan, Gabriella Wilde and Alicia Vikander for CINDERELLA Lead

[beautywickedlover]

In case no one already knew Mark Romanek has left the project because Disney thought his version was too dark. I guess they learned from the mistakes they made in 'Return to Oz' and did not want to go down that route again.

"The Walt Disney Studios and Mark Romanek have parted ways on Disney’s Cinderella project. We are committed to moving the project forward and have begun the search for a new director. The team here at Disney respects Mark as both a director and a friend, and we hope to find something to work on together in the future.”


Mark Romanek Exiting Disney’s ‘Cinderella’

[Jungle Red]

Me! Me! Me! I'll do it.

[beautywickedlover]

Kenneth Branagh is apparently taking over as director.

It'll be interesting to see how Professor Lockhart from 'Harry Potter' will handle this film. He did a great job directing 'Thor'.




Disney's Cinderella Hands Kenneth Branagh Its Glass Slipper

[beautywickedlover]

I know that she's only in early talks, but I really hope this happens. I love her so much and she'd be so perfect for the role of Cinderella.








Emma Watson: Cinderella in Disney's Live Action Film?

[beautywickedlover]

Now that Emma Watson is no longer up for the role. Here are the three actresses that are testing for the role right now:

Lily James ('Downton Abbey')



Bella Heathcote ('Dark Shadows')



Margot Robbie ('Pan Am')



Who would be the best choice?

Richard Madden ('Game of Thrones') is also a top candidate for the Prince.




'Downton Abbey', 'Game of Thrones' stars for Disney's 'Cinderella'?

[beautywickedlover]

The Glass Slipper fits Lily James. She will star in this film as Cinderella. Cate Blanchett will indeed play Lady Tremaine and Kenneth Branagh will direct the film.








Lily James to Star in Disney’s ‘Cinderella’

[Mister Matt]

I think I'd rather see her play Lady Elaine.

[OperaBwayLover]

The reason why Cinderella is not one of my favorite Disney films is because of Lady Tremaine. Growing up, I never understood why she got away with breaking the glass slipper (yeah, everyone else focused on the mice and the dress; I was all about the crime and punishment).

Still, this should be interesting. The Sleeping Beauty retelling via Malificent is coming out first, right?

[beautywickedlover]

^ 'Maleficent' is scheduled for a release in July 2014, so yes it is.

"Growing up, I never understood why she got away with breaking the glass slipper"

I thought that scene was not really needed for the film. Though her reaction to 'Cinderella' having the other slipper was priceless. As a child, I've always preferred the Rogers and Hammerstein's version of the story. The step-family was actually very cruel in Walt's version and I remember reading in the Wall Street Journal that when Rogers and Hammerstein were making a musical based on the story, they wanted make the step-family more human and less vile.

However, if Walt's version did not succeed at the box office, the Disney company would have ceased to exist. They did not have a major box office hit since 'Snow White'. There are definitely some pluses in the animated film like the voice cast and the music. Elanor Audely, Ilene Woods, and Verna Felton were the highlights. But it's not my all-time favorite version of the story. I'm looking forward to seeing what this re-imagining will be like, especially since Blanchett is going to be in it.

[BroadwayBenny]

However, Walt's version did not succeed at the box office, the Disney company would have ceased to exist.

You must have typed something incorrectly in that sentence. Walt's Cinderella was a MASSIVE hit at the box office in 1950. The first major hit they had actually since Snow White.

I think that's what you meant to type anyway.

[beautywickedlover]

^ That was what I meant to type. I forgot to put the "if" in that sentence. 'Cinderella' saved the company from going out of business. If it were not for 'Cinderella' the Disney company might never have made anymore movies.

[beautywickedlover]

'Game of Thrones' actor, Richard Madden, has been confirmed to play Prince Charming.




Casting Net: 'Game of Thrones' actor to play Cinderella's prince; Plus Octavia Spencer, more

[beautywickedlover]

Sophie McShera and Holliday Grainger have apparently been cast as Drizella and Anastasia.










'Downton Abbey' Star in Talks to Join Disney's 'Cinderella' (Exclusive)

[beautywickedlover]

Helena Bonham Carter has been cast as the Fairy Godmother.


Helena Bonham Carter to Play 'Fairy Godmother' in Kenneth Branagh's CINDERELLA

[Visceral_Fella]

Wow, I'm really excited for this. Lots of movies to look forward to Carrie, Maleficent, Into the Woods, and now this.