Disney is continuing its reimagining of some of its most classic fairytales with a live action iteration of Cinderella.
The trailer doesn’t show his name anywhere noticeable, but the poster has it in fine print on the bottom, “a KENNETH BRANAGH film.” That alone tells us plenty about this interesting production.
Anyone who remembers Kenneth Branagh’s film adaptations of Shakespeare’s plays including Hamlet, Much Ado About Nothing and Henry V (not to mention Marvel’s Thor), should have a good idea for what to expect from Cinderella, visually. Spectacular, opulent sets and costumes, sensational dynamic drama and a cast of Big-Name Brits.
All of which is on full display in the trailer and Cinderella is certainly a story that deserves soaring visuals and theatrical staging.
That’s what we can expect. But I’m a bit curious about this choice of Disney’s to follow up the narrative flipping Maleficent with this apparently straight telling of Cinderella. Although admittedly, a movie that tells the stepfamily’s side of the story wouldn’t be as interesting as Maleficent, off hand at least.
Check out the trailer, the poster and the synopsis for Disney’s Cinderella below and prepare for the open invitation Ball in March 2015.
Synopsis: The story of “Cinderella” follows the fortunes of young Ella (Lily James) whose merchant father remarries following the death of her mother. Eager to support her loving father, Ella welcomes her new stepmother (Cate Blanchett) and her daughters Anastasia (Holliday Grainger) and Drisella (Sophie McShera) into the family home. But, when Ella’s father unexpectedly passes away, she finds herself at the mercy of a jealous and cruel new family. Finally relegated to nothing more than a servant girl covered in ashes, and spitefully renamed Cinderella, Ella could easily begin to lose hope. Yet, despite the cruelty inflicted upon her, Ella is determined to honor her mother’s dying words and to “have courage and be kind.” She will not give in to despair nor despise those who mistreat her. And then there is the dashing stranger she meets in the woods. Unaware that he is really a prince, not merely an apprentice at the Palace, Ella finally feels she has met a kindred soul. It appears her fortunes may be about to change when the Palace sends out an open invitation for all maidens to attend a ball, raising Ella’s hopes of once again encountering the charming Kit (Richard Madden). Alas, her stepmother forbids her to attend and callously rips apart her dress. But, as in all good fairy tales, help is at hand, and a kindly beggar woman (Helena Bonham-Carter) steps forward and — armed with a pumpkin and a few mice — changes Cinderella’s life forever.
Source: CBM
