Guillermo del Toro (HELLBOY) and Alfonso Cuaron (HARRY POTTER AND THE PRISONER OF AZKABAN) have been hired by Warner Bros. to make an adaptation of Roald Dahl's 1973 book, THE WITCHES, reports VARIETY. Del Toro will write and direct with Cuaron producing via his New York-based company Esperanto.
In regards to Nicolas Roegs 1989 adaptation, Del Toro said, "The Roeg film is a brilliant movie but certain aspects are a departure from Dahl's original. Dahl had the brilliance of writing children's stories, which shocked adults.
The story follows orphaned boy named, Luke, who is being raised by this sick grandmother, who believes in all things supernatural. On vacation, Luke discovers that the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children meeting going on in his hotel is really a convention of witches who plan to turn all the children in England into mice.
No start date has been determined.
Rick DeMott
Animation World Network
Creator of Rick's Flicks Picks
