Empire got the exclusive low down Alfonso Cuaron's involvement in The Witches, in what could be the most interesting and worthwhile re-adaptation of a classic children's book following a decent initial film, well, ever.  Although it was rumoured that Cuaron was down to direct, it seems that he will instead be producing,  while legend-in-the-making Guillermo Del Toro will take the helm. The pair were discussing the potential of adapting the much naughtier Dahl story Uncle Oswald, when the conversation turned to The Witches. Cuaron told us:  "Guillermo wrote this amazing screenplay really quickly." He also said that, "It won’t be like the original Nicolas Roeg version, which was a beautiful film," because (and this is the very exciting part), del Toro plans to "do it completely in stop-motion animation." We will just have to wait and see how they could ever replace Roeg's army of cross-dressing bald-headed extras, however. Read the rest of the interview with Alfonso Cuaron about The Witches and more here.

Emily Phillips

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Stop Motion? Stop the madness!
Stop-motion is the most hideous idea I have ever heard. I will no longer see this. I'm not paying to watch little lumps of coloured clay judder clunkily across the screen with restricted facial expression. In fact, I might just sneak in and laugh pointedly at the ridiculous nonsense it will become in stop-motion. How are children going to find the Grand High Witch frightening and therfore enjoy the film, when they know she's just a bloody piece of lumpy shit. ... Read More TheGoldenMonkey About me
21:45, 28 March 2009 | Report This Post
i agree with lost high way
stop motion isn the way to go with this movie especially when people have see it as live action i think the nighmare before christmas was a great movie in it's own right though, as stop motion but if that was converted to live action it would not have the same effect see the problem . i'm just sain is all ... Read More SteadyEddie About me
22:06, 05 December 2008 | Report This Post
Unlikely he will direct ...
I think it will be the same deal as Burton's animations. I.e. he will not direct in the traditional sense. I think he will do what Burton has done and leave someone else who knows stop-frame to direct the actual shoot, and his role will be a mixture of executive producer and co-director. It will be 'Guillermo Del Toro PRESENTS...' I think. That makes more sense to my mind, anyway... ... Read More Nicky C About me
09:11, 02 December 2008 | Report This Post
By the time Del Toro gets round to it, Hollywood will have remade Hellboy. ... Read More granny About me
15:45, 01 December 2008 | Report This Post
So this is number what on Del Toro's to-do list?
I mean, it sounds great and all, but every few weeks there's a new story about another del Toro directing project. He's already got about 50 on the list, when's he supposed to do this? ... Read More the ageless stranger About me
14:29, 01 December 2008 | Report This Post
RE: You see, that's one of the dangers of being a smart arse...
del toro has an awful lot on his plate at the moment, its less than two weeks since he announced he was doing a pinochio stop motin film. ... Read More adambatman82 About me
11:07, 01 December 2008 | Report This Post
You see, that's one of the dangers of being a smart arse...
You make a "funny" comment about Empire's mis-spelling of a word, then they go and correct it and leave you looking like a gibberish spouting buffoon. ... Read More albumental About me
10:56, 01 December 2008 | Report This Post
Funk Yeah!
I mean, you had me at del Toro and Cuaron working together, then stop-motion? Please hurry up with the Hobbit, so you can go do his and Hellboy 3! ... Read More Ichabod Is Itchy About me
10:51, 01 December 2008 | Report This Post
From The Author Of Charly and that Choclit Facturee
And the Director of Childrin Of Mens. ... Read More albumental About me
10:01, 01 December 2008 | Report This Post
Oh dear!
And you lost me at...del Toro plans to "do it completely in stop-motion animation." WHY!!?? This sounded like a great project and it does have great potential but as a live action piece with Del Toro's unique vision. I'm one of the few who really didn't like Nightmare Before Christmas and thought James and the Giant Peach was good but could have been better... Hmmmm. Not happy about this news. :( ... Read More losthighway About me
10:00, 01 December 2008 | Report This Post
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