Memorial for Senator McCain at National Cathedral

Meryl Streep has told one story a few times, about how right around her 40th birthday, she was offered three different “witch” roles. She talked about how she felt like it was a signal about how Hollywood treats women over 40: they’re either playing moms or witches. Well, Anne Hathaway is only 36 years old. And she’s already being offered witch roles. Which witch? The remake of The Witches, based on Roald Dahl’s famous kids’ book of the same name. The original adaptation of the book was made in 1990, with a *checks Meryl’s math* nearly 40-year-old Anjelica Huston in the lead role.

Anne Hathaway has closed a deal to star as the Grand High Witch in Robert Zemeckis and Warner Bros.’ “The Witches” adaptation. Variety first reported that Hathaway was holding the offer for both that and “Sesame Street,” and at the time, scheduling for both films were holding up dealmaking. With those issues settled, Hathaway is now set to star in the role originally portrayed by Anjelica Huston in the 1990 classic.

Based on the 1973 novel, the film follows a 7-year-old boy who has a run in with real-life witches. Warner Bros. had previously adapted the book in 1990 with Huston playing one of the title characters, but sources close to the project say Zemeckis’ version will be more rooted in the original source material, while the Huston pic was a loose adaptation. Zemeckis will also pen the script as well as produce with his partner Jack Rapke through their banner ImageMovers, along with Alfonso Cuaron and Guillermo del Toro.

[From Variety]

I honestly don’t remember much about the book other than the fact that I read it a million times when I was a kid. I know I saw the movie at some point too but I guess I forgot it. I imagine that this probably will be closer to the source material (Dahl’s classic book) and I imagine it will have tons of CGI. But I’m still hung up on the fact that Anne Hathaway is only 36 and she’s already getting witch roles.

Oh lord I forgot about her Golden Globes dress.

Photos courtesy of Avalon Red, WENN.
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