Careful the Things You Say, Sondheim! Composer Reveals Key Plot Changes for Into the Woods Film

We know things now about the upcoming Disney film adaptation of Into the Woods and we’re, well, excited and scared. Stephen Sondheim recently spoke with a group of drama instructors at a master class organized by the Academy for Teachers in New York. The New Yorker reports that while there, the legendary composer spilled the beans on some major plot differences in the film. Spoilers below, obviously.

“You will find in the movie that Rapunzel does not get killed,” Sondheim revealed to the attendees, “and the Prince does not sleep with the Baker’s Wife. Additionally, the composer revealed that the number “Any Moment” has been “probably cut.” He went on to say, “I won’t tell you what happens, but we wrote a new song to cover it.” Sondheim also discussed Disney’s objections to the sexual nature of the Wolfe and Little Red Riding Hood’s story, suggesting that those scenes may be a bit more tame than on stage (read: no wolf penises).

As of now, we suspect (or are at least extremely hopeful) that “Lament” and “Moments in the Woods,” two rather well-known numbers that follow the above-mentioned Rapunzel and Baker’s Wife plot points in the show, will still appear in the flick, albeit potentially under different circumstances. But with the screenplay penned by the show’s book writer James Lapine, we still have faith that the movie will be a respectable adaptation of the beloved musical, despite these questionable choices. We wish.

Into the Woods is set for a Christmas Day release this year. The Rob Marshall-helmed project stars Meryl Streep as The Witch, Anna Kendrick as Cinderella, James Corden as The Baker, Emily Blunt as The Baker’s Wife, Johnny Depp as The Wolf and Chris Pine as Cinderella’s Prince. The flick will also feature stage faves Billy Magnussen, Mackenzie Mauzy, Lilla Crawford, Christine Baranski and Tammy Blanchard.