Disney Is Officially Destroying Into the Woods
LatestIf you’ve ever seen a production of Into the Woods, the 1986 Stephen Sondheim musical that brings — or violently smashes —together the fairy tale classics, then you probably came away with the understanding that “happily ever after” isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. Get what you’ve spent your whole life wishing for and what comes next is often a disappointment. It’s true for Cinderella and Prince Charming. It’s true for Into the Woods fans and the Into the Woods movie that’s slowly being ruined by Disney.
Disney’s original announcement that they were turning Into the Woods into a studio picture starring Meryl Streep and (seasoned Sondheim-ruiner) Johnny Depp was met with skepticism or — from some — outright hostility (hi!), but while it’s a little silly to get fussy over a suspicion that Disney might be ruining one of your favorite musicals, it’s understandable to get upset when you KNOW that they’re ruining one of your favorite musicals, a fact that Stephen Sondheim recently confirmed himself.
During a recent master class in New York City, Sondheim — speaking on censorship — told a group of high school drama teachers about Disney’s decision to ax a large portion of Into the Woods‘ dark content. (Spoilers to follow.)
“You will find in the movie that Rapunzel does not get killed, and the prince does not sleep with the [Baker’s Wife],” Sondheim said (as reported by the New Yorker).