Anne Hathaway ‘lands MAJOR role’ in upcoming reboot of The Witches

It's gonna be pretty scary!

Anne Hathaway and Anjelica Huston

by Emma Dodds |
Updated on

The news that there was going to be a reboot of the 1990 film The Witches, based on the children's book by Roald Dahl, filled fans of the original with both delight and dread. On the one hand, the story is beloved all around the world - but on the other hand, imagine how much scarier THAT moment where the Grand High Witch removes her mask would be with modern technology.

And although Anjelica Huston could not have been a more perfect actress for that role at the time, it's now being reported that one of the biggest female stars on the planet has signed up to take it on for Robert Zemeckis' remake.

The Witches
©The Witches © The Jim Henson Company

According to Variety, Anne Hathaway has reportedly accepted the role of the Grand High Witch in the upcoming remake, which doesn't yet have a release date and is still in pre-production, according to IMDb.

Variety also report that this version will be more based on the original 1973 novel by Roald Dahl, rather than the 1990 film which differed in many ways from the book and was more of a loose adaptation of the source material.

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Swipe through to see which films you can look forward to in 2019...

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Toy Story 4

There were no dry eyes in the house at the end of Toy Story 3 - and whilst many were happy with how the trilogy finished, the new trailer has made fans realise that perhaps they do need another film in the series after all. Toy Story 4 will be released in the UK on 21st June 2019.

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Avengers: Endgame

The second part to the finale of the Avengers film series will be released next year. Following on from Infinity War where half the population of the world has been wiped out by Thanos - including a LOT of our favourite Avengers - how on earth will our heroes conquer the evil genius? Avengers: Endgame will be released in UK cinemas on 26th April 2019.

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Star Wars: Episode IX

There's also another major finale to a trilogy coming out next year in the form of Star Wars: Episode IX. After Rey was able to harness the Force, fans have been left wondering if they'll ever discover her true parentage - or whether she really is a nobody, as Kylo Ren said. It will be released on 20th December 2019.

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Dumbo

Disney are not holding back with their plans to give most of their old classic films the live-action treatment after the success of films like The Jungle Book, and Dumbo is now in the works. The trailer on its own had viewers weeping, so it's most likely to be a huge tear-jerker when it's released in the UK on 29th March 2019.

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The Lion King

Another Disney classic to be given a live-action makeover next year is The Lion King. Fans of the original were dubious over whether anything could compare to the 1994 animated film, but the star-studded voice cast has managed to turn people around. The Lion King will be released in the UK on 19th July 2019.

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It: Chapter 2

The sequel to the incredibly successful 2017 remake of It will be released next year, following the lives of the children after they've grown up. Although the child cast will still star, James McAvoy, Jessica Chastain and Bill Hader will take on the roles for the sequel. It: Chapter 2 will be released in the UK on 6th September 2019.

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Aladdin

2019 is going to be a huge year for the Disney live-action remakes, as Aladdin is also set to be released. Directed by Guy Ritchie, fans of the original cannot wait to see Will Smith's take on the Genie after it was originated by the late, great Robin Williams. Aladdin will be released in the UK on 24th May 2019.

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Men In Black: International

Men In Black: International will take the focus away from Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones, and instead reunite Thor actors Chris Hemsworth and Tessa Thompson. Also starring Liam Neeson and Emma Thompson, the sequel will be released in the UK on 14th June 2019.

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Frozen 2

The first Frozen film was one of the most popular children's films of the decade, so it's no surprise that a sequel has been in the works since its release in 2013. Bringing back Kristen Bell and Idina Menzel as sisters Anna and Elsa, Frozen 2 will be released in the UK on 22nd November 2019.

Robert Zemeckis, who is behind beloved films like Castaway, Back to the Future and Forrest Gump, will work on the film with Alfonso Cuarón and Guillermo Del Toro, who both worked on Pan's Labyrinth.

This year is set to be a big one for Anne Hathaway, as she's starring in three films which will all be released in the coming months - Serenity, The Hustle and The Last Thing He Wanted. She also starred in Ocean's Eight last year as Daphne Kluger.

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