Fairy tale properties are obviously white hot right now, and with three studios currently racing to get their various “Snow White” pictures into production, Paramount is moving ahead confidently with their own, thankfully different, project with another actress joining what is shaping up to be an intriguing cast.
The Playlist has learned that Famke Janssen has joined “Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters,” with reps for the actress confirming her casting in the film. Janssen joins Gemma Arterton and Jeremy Renner in the dark reboot written by “All You Need Is Kill” writer D.W. Harper, which follows the sibling pair into adulthood, having survived their early encounter with the gingerbread house, and grown into full-time killers of witches. Janssen’s role in the film is unknown at the moment. Update: Deadline reveals Janssen will play the leader of the witches in the film.
Last we heard, Paramount was moving fast on the film with a target production start of March 7th in its sights to accommodate Jeremy Renner’s very busy schedule as he’ll be on break between “Mission: Impossible — Ghost Protocol” and “The Avengers.” The film is being produced by Adam McKay & Will Ferrell’s Gary Sanchez shingle, with Tommy Wirkola, the director of Nazi zombie flick “Dead Snow” at the helm. No release date has yet been set.