It was just yesterday when we told you Frank Darabont had left Universal's planned SNOW WHITE AND THE HUNTSMAN prequel/spin-off THE HUNTSMAN due to creative differences; well it didn’t take long for them to find a new director. Universal has signed Cedric Nicolas-Troyan, the second-unit director and visual effects supervisor on the original film, to direct THE HUNTSMAN. This will be his first feature after years of visual effects work on films such as ONE HOUR PHOTO and PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: DEAD MAN'S CHEST.
Nicolas-Troyan earned an Oscar nomination for his visual effects work SNOW WHITE AND THE HUNTSMAN. He recently worked as second unit director on MALEFICENT, so he knows a thing or two about spectacle. Let's hope he’s provided with a solid script for the sequel, something the original was lacking. We know that Kristen Stewart will not be returning as Snow White, Chris Hemsworth will be back to play the titular Huntsmen and Charlize Theron will again play the queen Ravenna.
THR says the script by Darabont focuses on "the Huntsman and Ravenna’s lives before the arrival of Snow White." We let you know yesterday as well that Emily Blunt is in talks for a role; she’ll play Ravenna’s sister. I hope for the sake of this talented cast that there is going to be something worth watching here. I can't imagine that there's still an audience for this, well I can, I just don't want to.
THE HUNTSMAN is set for release on April 22, 2016.