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Tommy Wirkola Tackling Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters

by Alex Billington
April 30, 2009

So that's what happened to Hansel and Gretel! Another new crazy zombie comedy called Dead Snow debuted at Sundance earlier this year to fairly positive reviews (including an 8.5 out of 10 from me). So how does the director of that film follow up a zombie movie about undead frozen Nazi zombies? How about Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters? Norwegian director Tommy Wirkola (seen above) has officially broken his way into Hollywood and lined up his next feature project, about Hansel and Gretel some 15 years after that whole gingerbread house incident. Simply put, they're now specialized bounty hunters.

"The idea is, they've grown up and they hunt witches. It's a hybrid sort of old-timey feeling, yet there's pump-action shotguns. Modern technology but in an old style. We heard it and we were just like, 'That's a freakin' franchise! You could make three of those!'" Producing this will be Adam McKay and Will Ferrell, who were pitched the idea by Wirkola, and were instantly excited about the prospect of bringing a Shaun of the Dead/Evil Dead 2 comedy action vibe to their production company. Kevin Messick, who brought the project to them, will make this his first produced feature as an official member of the Sanchez crew.

Filed under Movie News, Opinions

From around the web:

Kingston

Could be awesome, but I´m waiting for him to finish Kill Buljo 2 and 3 before this. Any word on that?
2+2=4?

I think that Dead Snow sucked. No story, stupid people, and it wasn't even funny. The only good thing in it was the make up for zombies.
Hey Ya

Why does everything have to be a franchise? Can't "Hollywood" just live with a single awesome movie?
Dan W

I hope it isn't just overly comedic like "Look we just blew off this witch's head and made a funny face afterward, you should laugh now."
http://johnkuehlonline.blogspot.com John Kuehl

Sorry, I watched Dead Snow and I thought it was horrible. As someone who cannot get enough of zombie movies, it was hands down one of the worst zombie films I have seen in years.
moldybread

I like it...more of an original idea than most stuff we see lately...hope to see more on this one...
mandarin

Even as a fairly tale, a gingerbread house is unbelievable. Why get in trouble with the townspeople for eating children when you have a gingerbread house?
Marius Røhr

So looking forward to this one! Really love Buljo and Dead Snow, apparently i love QT and dead nazies.. =D ...I.B.<3 Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters have to be a good one. A real popcorn flick^^, Everything Wirkola touched by now turned to gold. =) Nice work! Norwegian.
anomym

this movie should not be made. in these increasingly conservative times. Such notions are dangerous, whatever the reasons. never again the burning times. never again.