The Disney musical Into the Woods technically follows a baker and his wife (played by James Corden and Emily Blunt) on a quest to reverse a curse that keeps them from starting a family.  But the sell is in the twist: the couple encounter fairy tale characters like Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood, and Rapunzel along the way.  Director Rob Marshall recruited a stellar cast to portray the Brothers Grimm creations, including Johnny Depp, Meryl Streep, Chris Pine, Christine Baranski, Tracey Ullman, Anna Kendrick, and Jake Gyllenhaal.

Unfortunately, we have to scratch that last name.  Gyllenhaal had to bow out of the project due to scheduling issues with the independent thriller Nightcrawler.  Details after the jump.

According to The Wrap, Marshall required Gyllenhaal to be on the Woods set several days in October and November to play Cinderella's prince.  Nightcrawler, which Gyllenhaal is also producing, just got the greenlight for a five-week shoot starting in October.  Gyllenhaal wanted to try to do both, but in the end could not make the dates work.

Dan Gilroy's script for Nightcrawler centers on a young freelance journalist who explores L.A. by night while working the crime beat.  Rene Russo co-stars.  This is Gilroy's directorial debut after co-writing The Bourne Legacy with his writer/director brother Tony Gilroy.

Gyllenhaal will next be seen opposite Hugh Jackman (who has somehow not been cast in Into the Woods) in Prisoners.  Earlier today we learned Gyllenhaal is in talks alongside Josh Brolin, John Hawkes, and Jason Clarke to star in Everest.