Universal has learned a lot from Snow White and The Huntsman, first and foremost being that their Snow White didn’t really work. So they replaced their female lead with two more so the follow-up film—a hybrid prequel and sequel—featured the three baddest bitches of them all: Charlize Theron, Emily Blunt, and Jessica Chastain. Now, in a new cast interview direct from the set of The Huntsman: Winter's War, we learn that one other thing that worked is milking this grandiose, fantastical world for all it’s worth.
Speaking with The Today Show dressed in costume, Blunt said of her character, Freya:
"I don’t know if I’m just as evil [as sister Ravenna]. There’s a rather sad backstory as to the reason why she becomes who she is and as cruel as she is, but it’s a great villain to play…I love fantasy, I have to say. Especially playing a queen in a fantasy, you vamp it up and it’s so fun."
As we learned from the latest trailer, that reason seems to be the death of her child — by her sister no less. This loss causes Freya to become the new Elsa in town and “Let It Go” all over the land. Though, Chris Hemsworth says the film, which is one part prequel, one part sequel, will also fill in the gaps to his character’s backstory regarding his love, Sarah (Chastain), a huntswoman.
Watch the cast chat more about The Huntsman in the video below.
What’ll be interesting to see is how Universal acts should this film become a success at the box office. Because The Huntsman takes place before Snow White, we already know that something bad happens to Freya and Sarah (since they’re not in the first film) and the heroes fail to destroy the mirror (since it is). Is it possible to somehow continue this franchise if this cast proves to be as entertaining to watch as the trailers suggest — without needing Kristen Stewart’s Snow White, I mean?
The Huntsman will hit theaters on April 22nd.
