'The Huntsman' Movie Release Date, Cast News: Jessica Chastain Joins Snow White Sequel
Jessica Chastain recently signed on to be part of the cast of "The Huntsman." She is known for her role in "Zero Dark Thirty." She joins other cast members Chris Hemsworth, who reprises his role as the Huntsman and Charlize Theron who comes back as Queen Ravenna. No details were given as to Chastain's character in the film. Emily Blunt is also confirmed to join as the Snow Queen, who is Ravenna's sister.
"The Huntsman" as a Variety report cites, is not a sequel to the 2012 "Snow White and the Huntsman" film with Kristen Stewart and Hemsworth. It is supposed to be a prequel that will expound on the story of how Ravenna and the Huntsman crossed paths before Snow White entered the picture.
A new director is at the helm after "Snow White and the Huntsman" director Frank Darabont left the directorship in January, due to "creative differences over the film." Darabont was supposed to replace Rupert Sanders who directed the first film. Cedric Nicolas-Troyan who was the special effects supervisor of the first film will direct. The initial screenplay was said to have been written by Darabont before he left.
Joe Roth is producing the film, and Palak Patel is the executive producer.
According to Cinema Blend, Universal's decision to exclude Kristen Stewart (Snow White) in the next movie was the best option they had in order for them to make the second movie. Without Snow White, the story can focus on the Huntsman and Queen Ravenna.
Additional cast news include the return of Nick Frost as the dwark Nion. It is not clear if any of the other dwarves were doing the same.
"The Huntsman" will premiere on April 22, 2016. Universal hopes that it will follow the first film's path and earn as much as $396 million in box office sales.
