Quelle: Walt Disney Pictures
Heute fiel in den Pinewood Studios in London die erste Klappe zu Disneys Cinderella, einer Realfilm-Version des klassischen Märchens von Aschenputtel. Nachdem Emma Watson lange als die Besetzung der Titelrolle gehandelt wurde, ging der Part schließlich an die Newcomerin Lily James ("Downton Abbey"), während die Oscarpreisträgerin Cate Blanchett die Rolle der bösen Stiefmutter übernahm. Die Regie führt Kenneth Branagh, der zuletzt Thor inszeniert hat und dieses Jahr mit Jack Ryan einen weiteren großen Film vorstellen wird. Cinderella soll eine sehr klassische Fantasy-Adaption des Märchens sein, dessen bekannteste Leinwand-Inkarnation der Disney-Animationsfilm von 1950 ist.
Disney hat in den letzten Jahren mit den Neuauflagen bzw. Neuinterpretationen klassischer Märchenstoffe sehr viel Erfolg gehabt. Sowohl Tim Burtons Alice im Wunderland als auch Sam Raimis Die fantastische Welt von Oz waren Riesenhits. Ähnliches erhofft sich das Studio auch mit Cinderella, der im März 2015 in die Kinos kommen soll. Auch Alice und Oz hatten jeweils einen März-Starttermin.
Zum Drehstart hat Disney neben dem Press Release auch das erste Foto von Lily James als Cinderella veröffentlicht, das Ihr unten sehen könnt. Daraufhin folgt die offizielle Pressemitteilung.
Walt Disney Pictures announced today that principal photography has begun at Pinewood Studios in London, on Cinderella, Disney’s first-ever live action feature inspired by the classic fairy tale.
Directed by Academy Award-nominee Kenneth Branagh (Jack Ryan, Thor), the film stars Lily James ("Downton Abbey," Wrath of the Titans) in the title role, Richard Madden ("Game of Thrones," Birdsong) as the Prince, Oscar-winner Cate Blanchett (The Aviator) as the infamous stepmother Lady Tremaine, and Academy Award-nominee Helena Bonham Carter (The King’s Speech, Alice in Wonderland) as the Fairy Godmother. Holliday Grainger (Great Expectations, Anna Karenina) and Sophie McShera ("Downton Abbey," "Waterloo Road") play Ella’s stepsisters Anastasia and Drisella, respectively. Stellan Skarsgård (The Avengers, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo) and Nonso Anozie ("Game of Thrones," The Grey) play the Arch Grand Duke and the Prince’s loyal friend, the Captain. Tony® Award-winner Derek Jacobi portrays the King.
Cinderella is produced by Simon Kinberg (X-Men: First Class, Elysium), Allison Shearmur (The Hunger Games: Catching Fire), David Barron (Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Jack Ryan), from a screenplay by Chris Weitz (About a Boy, The Golden Compass).
The filmmaking team includes three-time Academy Award-winning production designer Dante Ferretti (The Aviator, Hugo, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street), three-time Oscar-winning costume designer Sandy Powell (The Aviator, The Young Victoria, Shakespeare in Love), director of photography Haris Zambarloukos (Sleuth, Thor) and Academy Award-winning editor Martin Walsh (Chicago, Clash of the Titans).
The timeless story of "Cinderella" dates back to 1697 when first created by Charles Perrault, although it truly came to life for millions all over the world in 1950 with Walt Disney’s celebrated animated feature.
Director Kenneth Branagh says: "It is impossible to think of Cinderella without thinking of Disney and the timeless images we’ve all grown up watching. And those classic moments are irresistible to a filmmaker. With Lily James we have found our perfect Cinderella. She combines knockout beauty with intelligence, wit, fun and physical grace. Her Prince is being played by Richard Madden, a young actor with incredible power and charisma. He is funny, smart and sexy and a great match for Cinderella."
The story of Cinderella follows the fortunes of young Ella whose merchant father remarries following the tragic death of her mother. Keen to support her loving father, Ella welcomes her new stepmother Lady Tremaine and her daughters Anastasia and Drisella into the family home. But, when Ella’s father suddenly and unexpectedly passes away, she finds herself at the mercy of a jealous and cruel new family. Finally relegated to nothing more than a servant girl covered in ashes, and spitefully renamed Cinderella, Ella could easily begin to lose hope. Yet, despite the cruelty inflicted upon her, Ella is determined to honor her mother’s dying words and to "have courage and be kind." She will not give in to despair nor despise those who abuse her. And then there is the dashing stranger she meets in the woods. Unaware that he is really a prince, not merely an employee at the Palace, Ella finally feels she has met a kindred soul. It appears as if her fortunes may be about to change when the Palace sends out an open invitation for all maidens to attend a ball, raising Ella’s hopes of once again encountering the charming "Kit." Alas, her stepmother forbids her to attend and callously rips apart her dress. But, as in all good fairy tales, help is at hand as a kindly beggar woman steps forward and, armed with a pumpkin and a few mice, changes Cinderella’s life forever.