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Mark Romanek Departs Live-Action 'Cinderella' After Creative Clashing

by Ethan Anderton
January 8, 2013

Though last fall brought news of Cate Blanchett taking the role of a wicked step-mother in Disney's new live-action take on Cinderella, the production has hit a bit of a snag. Deadline reports that director Mark Romanek (Never Let Me Go, One Hour Photo) has walked away from the project after clashing with the studio on how to tell the story. Basically, Romanek is going for a darker telling and Disney thinks it's a little too dark to have a fairytale ending. So now the studio is hunting for a new director to replace him in order to get the film shooting by this summer. But what's going on with casting the titular peasant turned princess?

Apparently the studio has been testing leads since late last year with Hanna star Saoirse Ronan being the only specific named mentioned. Frankly, I'm a bit perturbed by Disney's move to let Romanek go, but this is one of their most beloved properties, so maybe they're right. Audiences will just be left wondering what Romanek's version would have been like. Of course, this isn't the first time this has happened as Romanek left the new take on The Wolfman (which had to be taken over by Joe Johnston) because his vision was too dark, and we all know how that mess turned out. Let's hope Disney made a smart decision. Thoughts?

Filed under Development, Movie News

From around the web:

http://www.facebook.com/matt.peloquin.14 Matt Peloquin

I'm curious about how the hell someone can make Cinderella "dark"...
- MagGray
  
  The story Cinderella was dark to begin with. It involved self-mutilation and birds pecking eyes out. Disney didn't write Cinderella, it was an adaptation that was made to be suitable for children.
Steve

Done with dark retellings of fairy tales. It is no longer creative.
- hg
  
  dark retelling oh dear Disney brainwashed you didn't they,did you know the ending of my little mermaid she commits suicide and doesn't end up with the prince these so called dark retelling you call them are just more respectful to the material that Disney bastardized
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M7YGEVuJ4mM Carpola

Cinderella is a crap story anyway, some aspirational rubbish. Her live was probably more miserable with the Prince. Game of Thrones tells a better fairytale.
matti.damon

props to mark romanek for not getting on his knees...