Disney has released the first trailer for the fairy tale musical Into the Woods, directed by Rob Marshall (Chicago).  James Corden and Emily Blunt star as a couple who encounter Brothers Grimm characters while on a quest to reverse a curse that keeps them from starting a family.  This is very much a teaser trailer, which unfortunately means we don't get to hear any of the songs just yet; this trailer is very much focused on introducing the cast and the magical world.  Marshall's first foray into tentpole moviemaking with Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides was a bit of a misfire, but Into the Woods looks to combine the large-canvas sensibilities of that film with the theatrical quality of Chicago.  He's assembled an incredibly talented cast to bring Into the Woods to fruition, so if he can deliver from a directorial standpoint (and if the songs turn out well), we could be in for something quite special.

Into the Woods stars Meryl Streep, Anna Kendrick, Chris Pine, Johnny Depp, Lilla Crawford, Daniel Huttlestone, Tracey Ullman, and Christine Baranski, and opens December 25th.  Hit the jump to watch the first Into the Woods trailer, and click here to see the recently released images.

Click over to Apple to watch in HD.

Here's the official synopsis:

“Into the Woods” is a modern twist on several of 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 acclaimed filmmaker behind the Academy Award®-winning musical “Chicago” and Disney’s “Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides,” directs 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. Produced by Marshall, John DeLuca, “Wicked” producer Marc Platt and Callum McDougall, “Into the Woods” will be released in theaters Dec. 25, 2014.

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