During an interview with Norwegian press at the Venice International Film Festival, Jeremy Renner let it slip that he and The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo star Noomi Rapace are in talks to star in Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters. The film would be directed by Tommy Wirkola, the filmmaker who previously brought audiences the zombie nazi fun of Dead Snow.
Rapace had been fielding plenty of offers in recent months since American audiences discovered her amazing work in the Sweedish-filmed adaptation of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. From Sherlock Homes 2 to Mission: Impossible 4 (with probably more smaller pictures scattered between), it was rumored that Hollywood’s most powerful were clamoring for her to star in their next picture. The fact that Rapace may choose to star in a dark horror comedy about a grown-up version of Hansel and Gretel makes me respect the actress all the more.
The film will find the brother and sister team of witch killers picking up their lives 15 years after their previous encounter with a gingerbread house. Will Ferrell and Adam McKay’s Gary Sanchez Productions is producing.
While this casting news is far from official, Renner is known for letting news of his upcoming projects slip. He had previously spilled the beans about being cast as Hawkeye in the Avengers movie well before it was officially announced. Kudos to Twitch Film for bringing this news to the public’s attention.
If this news ends up panning out, I’ll be a happy camper. I have not enjoyed The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo quite as much upon subsequent viewings and The Girl Who Played With Fire left me a little cold but the one thing I responded to extremely well in both films was Rapace’s acting. This movie has all the potential of being extremely fun and an instant cult classic — especially if Wirkola can bring talent of this level on board.
