Gretel & Hansel is a 2020 folk horror story that is slated for release on January 31, 2020. It follows in the tradition of Grimm fairy tales, and looks to capitalize on the increased interest in folk horror after Robert Eggers’ The Witch and Ari Aster’s Hereditary and Midsommar.
The trailer for the film released January 2nd, 2020 and showcase the dark elements of the tale, which are common attributes of the Grimm fairy tales that were originally published in the 1800s. Other Grimm fairy tales that have been adapted over the years, in some capacity, include The Little Mermaid, Snow White, Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters. Not all of these have been horror adaptations, and in fact, many have strayed from their dark roots in the past to become Disney adaptations, but in modern times, the darker elements of these tales have started to become more popular.
In some ways, Hansel and Gretel has been one of the most frequently adapted Grimm fairy tales, with many versions leaning more heavily toward horror instead of more innocent versions, as others have done. With the success of other folk horror stories in recent years, it’s likely that Gretel & Hansel will continue the trend. Here’s everything we know about the upcoming film.
Gretel & Hansel Release Date & Production
Filming for Gretel & Hansel began in Dublin, Ireland in November 2018 and wrapped in December 2018. Additional filming and re-shoots happened in January 2019 in Langley, British Columbia. The film was written by Rob Hayes with director Osgood Perkins (The Blackcoat’s Daughter, I Am The Pretty Thing That Lives In The House). Executive producers for the film include Jason Cloth (Joker, Bombshell), Aaron L. Gilbert (Joker, The Mule), Macdara Kelleher, and Sandra Yee Ling (Insidious: The Last Key). Gretel & Hansel is being produced by Orion Pictures and distributed by United Artists Releasing.
Gretel & Hansel Cast Information
Gretel & Hansel only features three primary roles, as does the tale that inspired it, but there is a new character added to the story as well. The film stars Sophia Lillis (IT) as Gretel, Samuel Leakey (BBC TV miniseries MotherFatherSon) as Hansel, Alice Krige (Ghost Story, Star Trek) as Holda/The Witch, and Charles Babalola (The Legend of Tarzan). Babalola is the new character, a hunter, who helps Gretel and Hansel get back home. The film also features Jessica de Gouw (Arrow) in a minor role as a young version of Holda.
What Will Gretel & Hansel’s Story Be About?
The Brothers Grimm’s version of the tale was first published in 1812. According to Perkins, the film’s director, this movie will be a very faithful adaptation to the original story. Said Perkins, “We tried to find a way to make it more of a coming-of-age story. I wanted Gretel to be somewhat older than Hansel, so it didn’t feel like two twelve-year-olds, rather a sixteen-year-old and an eight-year-old. There was more of a feeling like Gretel having to take Hansel around everywhere she goes, and how that can impede one’s own evolution, how our attachments and the things that we love can sometimes get in the way of our growth.“
Because of Perkins’ outlook for Gretel & Hansel, the title, which typically has Hansel’s name first, was swapped to reflect Gretel as the focus of the story. In the Grimm version, Hansel and Gretel are two children who are lost in the woods searching for work and food, and end up encountering a cannibalistic witch.
Key Release Dates
Hansel and Gretel
Release Date:2020-01-31
