Although Kristen Stewart isn’t expected to be back, Universal is still working on a Snow White and the Huntsman sequel and the studio may have found their director. Frank Darabont is reportedly in talks to replace Rupert Sanders, who helmed the 2012 film.
Darabont was first linked to the project by Deadline earlier in the month, with Gavin O’Connor and Andy Muschetti also on the short list. However, TheWrap reported today that Darabont has started negotiations with the studio and producer Roth Films.
With Stewart expected to be out of the picture for anything bigger than a cameo, Show White 2 will be more like Huntsman 2. The story will likely focus on Chris Hemsworth’s character, so Snow White may be even left out of the new film’s title.
Charlize Theron should be back though, to play the evil queen again.
The first Snow White film made $400 million worldwide, so it makes perfect sense for the studio to move ahead with the sequel, even after the affair tabloid debacle between the then-married Sanders and Stewart. With both of those parties out of the way, Universal can push ahead scandal-free.
Darabont was once known for his acclaimed Stephen King films, The Shawshank Redemption and The Green Mile, along with The Mist. However, he developed AMC’s The Walking Dead, turning it into the biggest cable hit in recent years.
Universal is eyeing a 2016 release date for Snow White and the Huntsman 2. There is still no final script, though.
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