Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters Movie Updates!

Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters Adds Famke Janssen

Famke Janssen has joined the cast of the Paramount Pictures adventure Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters, alongside Jeremy Renner and Gemma Arterton.

It isn't known what role Famke Janssen will portray yet. Jeremy Renner and Gemma Arterton are playing the title characters, the classic fairy tale siblings who have survived their traumatic childhood to become witch hunters.

Tommy Wirkola (Dead Snow) is directing from a script by D.W. Harper. Adam McKay and Will Ferrell will produce Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters through their Gary Sanchez Productions label.

Principal photography will begin on March 7, although a release date has not been determined yet. 

Sources: The Playlist

Gemma Arterton Joins Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters

Remember Gemma Arterton from Clash of the Titans and Prince of Persia: Sands of Time? She has officially signed on as Gretel in the Paramount Picture's fantasy project Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters, starring alongside Jeremy Renner.

Jeremy Renner and The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo star Noomi Rapace were in talks to play Hansel and Gretel in this revamped tale. Rapace was a contender for the role, along with Diane Kruger and Eva Green, which eventually went to Gemma Arterton. Tommy Wirkola is directing from a script he co-wrote with D.W. Harper. The story picks up years after the original fairy tale, with the brother and sister becoming bounty hunters to cope with their tragic past.

Production is said to begin on March 7 in Berlin.

Jeremy Renner will shoot this project during his eight-week break between Mission: Impossible Ghost Protocol and The Avengers.

Sources: Heat Vision Blog

Jeremy Renner and Noomi Rapace Are Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters

In an interview at the Venice International Film Festival, Jeremy Renner dropped word to Kultur (via Twitch) that he and Noomi Rapace are in negotiations to join Paramount's Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters. Tommy Wirkola is set to direct the film, which takes place 15 years after the siblings' incident involving the gingerbread house. The siblings have evolved into bounty hunters who hunt witches.

Tommy Wirkola wrote the script with Dante Harper. No production date has been set. Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters comes to theaters January 11th, 2013 and stars Jeremy Renner, Gemma Arterton, Famke Janssen. The film is directed by Tommy Wirkola.

 Sources: Kultur, Twitch