Billy Magnussen on INTO THE WOODS Casting: 'Meryl Got Me the Job'

In an all-new interview in today's Variety, Tony nominee Billy Magnussen talked about his role as Rapunzel's Prince in Disney's upcoming big screen adaptation of INTO THE WOODS.

"I'm just really thankful to be a part of this," Magnussen told the site at last night's New York premiere. "Actually, Meryl got me the job. I was doing a play ['Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike'] and she came and saw the play and told [director] Rob Marshall to let me audition. I remember the first day I showed up for the first read through and Meryl's like, 'I got you this f-ing job!'"

Asked about almost being cast in the lead role of Christian Grey in the upcoming "50 Shades of Grey", the Broadway star shared, "You know, I don't really care. t's what fate had in store. It's never really losing a role. It's never mine to begin with, so how can I be upset for something I never had?"

Asked if he will check out the film when it hits theaters on Valentine's Day, he quipped, "Maybe I'll have a BDSM party with myself and invite some people and we'll do that instead.

Read the interview in full here

INTO THE WOODS, hitting theaters on December 25th, is a modern twist on the beloved Brothers Grimm fairy tales, intertwining the plots of a few choice stories and exploring the consequences of the characters' wishes and quests.

This humorous and heartfelt musical follows the classic tales of Cinderella (Anna Kendrick), Little Red Riding Hood (Lilla Crawford), Jack and the Beanstalk (Daniel Huttlestone), and Rapunzel (MacKenzie Mauzy) - all tied together by an original story involving a baker and his wife (James Corden & Emily Blunt), their wish to begin a family and their interaction with the witch (Meryl Streep) who has put a curse on them. Rob Marshall, the talented filmmaker behind the Academy Award-winning musical "Chicago" and Disney's "Pirates of the Caribbean: OnStranger Tides," helms the film, which is based on the Tony-winning original musical by James Lapine, who also penned the screenplay, and legendary composer Stephen Sondheim, who provides the music and lyrics.

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