International
Disney plans an extensive cast for the Broadway musical ‘Into the Woods’
MUMBAI: Disney seems to be successfully cashing out on its fairy tale adaptations. The latest in its list of offerings is a take on Cinderella, named Into the Woods. The Broadway musical which will be helmed by Rob Marshall has attracted a glamorous cast including Meryl Streep, Johnny Depp, Chris Pine, Jake Gyllenhaal, James Corden, Emily Blunt, Tracy Ullman and Christine Baranski, all of whom are in various stages of negotiations to be part of the production.
Disney is also in talks with Anna Kendrick to play the lead Cinderella which will bring the actress back into the screen singing spotlight after her last year‘s surprise hit Pitch Perfect. Disney‘s keen for Kendrick as she has been acting in Broadway musicals from a young age and won several awards.
The plot revolves around the classic fairy tale wherein a childless baker (Corden) and his wife (Blunt) attempt to lift a family curse by journeying into the woods to confront the witch that put the spell on them. Along the way, they encounter a group of fairy tale characters including Rapunzel, Cinderella and Little Red Riding Hood.
In this mashup of the fairy tale, Cinderella will be married to a vain prince (Pine) and be described as a woman trying to find her place in the world.
Kendrick who is yet to affirm her involvement in the project is currently shooting Richard LaGravenese‘s musical adaptation The Last 5 Years.
International
Council of Europe to unveil new TV and streaming co-production convention
Series Mania Forum to host landmark signing to boost global TV collaboration
LILLE: The small screen is getting a big policy push. At this year’s Series Mania Forum in Lille, Alain Berset will take centre stage to chair the opening ceremony for a new international convention aimed at reshaping how television and streaming series are co-produced across borders.
Set for March 26 at the Théâtre Marie Curie in Lille Grand Palais, the signing marks the debut of the first legal framework dedicated specifically to the independent co-production of series. In an industry where stories travel faster than ever, the move aims to make collaboration smoother, fairer and more transparent.
Backed by the Council of Europe, the convention is designed to strengthen cultural ties, give independent producers a firmer footing, and bring greater clarity to deals in a rapidly evolving content landscape. With streaming platforms fuelling a surge in global storytelling, the timing feels deliberate.
Council of Europe secretary general Alain Berset, underscored the cultural heft of series today, noting how they carry voices and viewpoints across borders. He called on member states and countries beyond Europe to sign on, framing the initiative as a way to turn culture into a tool for cooperation and democratic exchange.
For Series Mania founder and general director Laurence Herszberg, hosting the signing is both symbolic and strategic. She described the convention as a step that could widen the range of stories reaching audiences, staying true to the forum’s long-standing mission of championing diverse storytelling.
The ceremony will unfold alongside the Lille Dialogues, a high-level summit that gathers policymakers and industry leaders to debate the future of Europe’s audiovisual sector. Berset is also set to deliver the opening address there, adding political weight to a week already rich in creative ambition.
In short, as screens multiply and borders blur, Europe is putting a framework in place to ensure that storytelling keeps pace, collaboratively and coherently.
