Rob Marshall to Make INTO THE WOODS His Next Project at Disney

Rob Marshall will make Stephen Sondheim's INTO THE WOODS his next project at Warner Bros/Disney, according to Deadline.com, altering the exisiting production schedule to push the project to the top of the queue.

"The original plan was to start production [of The Thin Man] in late November, but that will change as Marshall eyes Into the Woods next and The Thin Man after," writes Mike Fleming.

As previously reported on BroadwayWorld.com, James Lapine, the original book writer of INTO THE WOODS, is currently at work on a new script for the movie, while Sondheim is expected to contribute some new songs to the film.

“He’s a genius when it comes to his score,” Marshall says of Sondheim, “but what’s so extraordinary is, he really understands all the elements of theater — the choreography, the book and the production design — and has an amazing sense of the whole.”

Marshall's films have been honored with a total of 23 Academy Award nominations - winning nine, including Best Picture. His most recent film, "Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides" starring Johnny Depp and Penelope Cruz, has grossed over one billion dollars at the worldwide box office becoming the "8th Highest Grossing Picture in History." He is currently developing "The Thin Man" starring Johnny Depp.

Marshall's film "Nine" was nominated for four Academy Awards, five Golden Globes and 10 Critics Choice Awards. His previous directorial efforts include the Academy Award-winning films "Chicago" and "Memoirs of a Geisha." For his work on "Chicago," winner of six Oscars including Best Picture, Marshall received the Directors Guild Award, an Oscar nomination, a Golden Globe Award nomination, a BAFTA nomination, The National Board of Review Award and the New York Film Critics Online Award, both for best directorial debut, as well as the American Choreography Award. His epic film "Memoirs of a Geisha" was the winner of three Oscars, three BAFTA Awards and a Golden Globe. Both "Memoirs of a Geisha" and "Chicago" were nominated for CAS Awards.

Marshall executive produced, directed and choreographed the NBC television event "Tony Bennett: An American Classic." He won his second Directors Guild Award for this production as well as three Emmy Awards himself for Direction, Choreography and Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Special. He directed and choreographed Disney/ABC's critically acclaimed movie musical "Annie," which received 12 Emmy nominations, a CAS nomination and won the prestigious Peabody Award. Former CAS President Edward L. Moskowitz commented, "It was to great to work with Rob Marshall on "Annie". Rob's depth of experience in live entertainment enhanced his inspirational leadership on the set and I am proud that the Cinema Audio Society has decided to honor him with our Filmmaker Award."

A six-time Tony Award nominee and George Abbott Award winner, Marshall's stage work includes co-directing and choreographing the worldwide award-winning Broadway production of "Cabaret" and directing and choreographing the Broadway revival of "Little Me," starring Martin Short. He made his Broadway choreographic debut with "Kiss of the Spider Woman," directed by Harold Prince, which also played London's West End and Vienna. He followed that with productions of "She Loves Me" on Broadway and London; "Damn Yankees" on Broadway, National Tour and London; Blake Edwards' "Victor/Victoria" on Broadway; "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum" on Broadway; "Company" on Broadway; "The Petrified Forest" at the New York Public Theatre, and "Promises, Promises" for City Center Encores! Additional choreography credits include the Disney/ABC movie musical "Cinderella" (Emmy nomination), the CBS movie musical "Mrs. Santa Claus"(Emmy nomination), and The Kennedy Center Honors (Kander & Ebb and Chita Rivera tributes).

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