Robert Zemeckis in final negotiations to direct Roald Dahl’s The Witches

Last Updated on August 5, 2021

Although "The Witches" was one of my favourite Roald Dahl books when I was growing up, I somehow never got around to watching the 1990 film based upon the novel. Based on what I've seen of Anjelica Huston as the Grand High Witch, it probably would have scared the crap out of me. A new adaptation of the author's classic novel has been in the works for some time, with Guillermo del Toro and Alfonso Cuaron at one point hoping to make it a stop-motion flick, but Variety reports that Robert Zemeckis is now in final negotiations to direct the feature for Warner Bros.

Variety's sources say that a deal is expected shortly and that Robert Zemeckis will also co-write the script with Jack Rapke, his long-time producing partner. Alfonso Cuaron and Guillermo del Toro will also remain onboard as producers, and it's said that Zemeckis' adaptation will follow the source material more closely than the 1990 film. Warner Bros. had been looking for a project for Zemeckis to take on after meeting with the director in regards to helming THE FLASH standalone movie, but even after that fell through, both Zemeckis and the studio were still keen on developing a project together.

"The Witches" followed a young eight-year-old boy and his grandmother, who constantly warns the young boy about the danger of witches, who like nothing better than cursing and killing human children. After taking a holiday at a luxury hotel, the pair stumble upon an annual meeting of witches, which includes the Grand High Witch herself. Robert Zemeckis' next project will be WELCOME TO MARWEN starring Steve Carrell as a man who constructs a minature WWII village to aid in his recovery after a violent assault. The film will hit theaters on November 21, 2018.