Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters

Paramount Moves HANSEL AND GRETEL: WITCH HUNTERS from March 2012 to January 2013

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: January 9th, 2012 at 5:26 pm

Well this is a doozy of a scheduling change. Paramount has pushed back the release of Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters from this coming March to January 11th, 2013. The film stars Jeremy Renner and Gemma Arterton as the titular fairy tale characters, and as one can surmise the plot involves their hunt for women in pointy hats. Having seen no trailer and only one image of the film thus far, it’s not all that shocking that Paramount is pushing the release back. This scheduling shift comes on the heels of the studio’s The Devil Inside bringing in over $30 million on the first weekend of the month despite a terrible reputation from critics and the general public alike.

Renner stars in this May’s The Avengers and will get his shot at the lead with this fall’s The Bourne Legacy, so the studio may want to capitalize on his stardom by placing Hansel and Gretal after these two major releases. Harvey Weinstein recently admitted to doing the same with The Wettest County, which stars Tom Hardy. The release date was moved to after The Dark Knight Rises comes out in order to capitalize on Hardy’s recognition following his turn as Bane. Hansel and Gretel currently has no competition on the January 11th date, but the Arnold Schwarzenegger actioner The Last Stand, the 3D re-release of Monsters Inc., the Russell Crowe drama Broken City, and the star-studded magician heist flick Now You See Me all open the following weekend.

First Image from HANSEL & GRETEL: WITCH HUNTERS Starring Jeremy Renner and Gemma Arterton

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: December 2nd, 2011 at 9:07 am

The first image from fairy tale re-imagining Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters has gone online. The movie stars Jeremy Renner and Gemma Arterton as the eponymous characters who are all growed up and looking for a little payback against the witch community.  Arterton tells Entertainment Weekly that the movie is “as much Pulp Fiction as fairy tale.”  So how do you defeat witches?  Do you burn their gingerbread houses to the ground?  Judging by this image, witches are terrified by the black leather.

Hit the jump for the full image plus more on what Arterton had to say about the movie.  The film also stars Famke Janssen and Peter Stormare.  Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters opens March 2, 2012.

First Look at Jeremy Renner and Gemma Arterton in HANSEL & GRETEL: WITCH HUNTERS

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: March 31st, 2011 at 12:08 pm

The first unofficial set photos from Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters have leaked online.  Jeremy Renner and Gemma Arterton star as the title characters who are still harboring resentment because they were almost killed by witches when they were kids.  There’s nothing super-remarkable about the photos although you’ll see that just because you’re hunting witches, doesn’t mean you can’t look stylish.

Hit the jump to check out the set photos.  Directed by Tommy Wirkola (Dead Snow), the film also stars Famke Janssen, Ingrid Bolsø Berdal, and Peter Stormare.  Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters opens in 3D on March 2, 2012.

Casting Call: Peter Stormare Joins HANSEL AND GRETEL: WITCH HUNTERS; Stephen Root to Co-Star in J. EDGAR

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: February 24th, 2011 at 8:47 am

We have two quick pieces of casting news for you this morning.  First up, Peter Stormare (Fargo) has joined Jeremy Renner, Gemma Arterton, and Famke Janssen in Tommy Wirkola’s Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters.  The 3D re-imagining of the Grimm fairy tale has the siblings Hansel and Gretel (played by Renner and Arterton) all grown up and still holding a grudge against witches for that whole “trying to cook and eat children” unpleasantness.  According to Deadline, Stormare will play “the villainous town sheriff ‘Berringer’.”

Hit the jump for news about ubiquitous character actor Stephen Root (Office Space) joining Clint Eastwood’s J. Edgar.

Ingrid Bolsø Berdal Joins HANSEL & GRETEL: WITCH HUNTERS

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: February 22nd, 2011 at 3:17 pm

Norwegian actress Ingrid Bolsø Berdal is the latest to join the cast of the fairy-tale update Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters. The film, starring Jeremy Renner and Gemma Arterton as the titular siblings, finds Hansel and Gretel as adults, who just so happen to be bounty-hunters who specialize in killing witches. Bloody Disgusting reports that Berdal will portray one of the witches who is a “superbad killing machine.” Famke Jansenn stars in the 3D film, directed by Tommy Wirkola (Dead Snow), as the head of the witches, and therefore the leading villain. Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters is slated for a March 2, 2012 release.

MGM Finally Comes Back from the Dead with 5 Projects including Remakes of ROBOCOP and POLTERGEIST

by Jackson Cresswell    Posted: February 18th, 2011 at 11:21 am

MGM, the home studio of James Bond, has been in financial limbo for what seems like forever.  After dumping rights to The Hobbit to Warner Brothers, and continuing lengthy discussions on the fate of the Bond franchise, MGM looked to be on its last legs.  But according to Variety, the long-standing studio is finally ready to get moving on no less than five different projects.

In addition to long-rumored reboots of Robocop and Poltergeist, the studio is reportedly financing or co-financing remakes of 1980s classics Mr. Mom and The Idolmaker.  MGM is also looking to produce “A ‘Hercules’ project.”  My fingers are crossed that Kevin Sorbo will be involved.  The studio also just recently joined up with Paramount to co-produce the 3D-shot Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters which stars Oscar-nominee Jeremy Renner and the very attractive Gemma Arterton as the witch killin’ siblings.  The story takes place 15 years after the familiar fairy tale.  Hit the jump for more on MGM and my thoughts on their post-resurrection projects.

HANSEL & GRETEL: WITCH HUNTERS, Starring Jeremy Renner and Gemma Arterton, Set for March 2, 2012

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: February 17th, 2011 at 1:27 pm

Paramount has set Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters for March 2, 2012.  The film spins the Grimm fairy tale to where Hansel and Gretel are now adults (played by Jeremy Renner and Gemma Arterton, respectively) and bounty-hunters who specialize in the witch-killin’ business.  Famke Janssen will play the leader of the witches.  Will Ferrell, Chris Henchy, Adam McKay, and Kevin J. Messick will produce with Dead Snow director Tommy Wirkola at the helm.

Currently, the only competition Hansel & Gretel will have that weekend is the animated adaptation of Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax.  Both films are currently set to be released in 3D. [Deadline]

Famke Janssen Signs on for HANSEL & GRETEL: WITCH HUNTERS Starring Jeremy Renner and Gemma Arterton

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: February 8th, 2011 at 1:02 pm

Famke Janssen has joined the cast of Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters.  The re-imagining of the Grimm fairy tale that has the brother and sister (played by Jeremy Renner and Gemma Arterton) as adults who survived their encounter at the gingerbread house and have become full-time witch-slayers.  The script is from All You Need Is Kill screenwriter D.W. Harper, and Tommy Wirkola (Dead Snow) will direct.  The Playlist originally confirmed the casting, and Deadline reports that Janssen will play the leader of the witches.

Filming is slated to begin March 7th in order to accommodate the small window of time in Renner’s schedule when he’s wrapped on Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol but hasn’t yet begun work on The Avengers.

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