History Trivia / IntoTheWoods

* CutSong: "Giants in the Sky", "On the Steps of the Palace" and "Last Midnight" were all replacements for less appropriate songs written earlier. There was also a song called "The Plan" that was cut. However, the initial versions of those songs are included on the original soundtrack; the prototype "Giants in the Sky" is notable for being so fast-paced that it's nearly unsingable.

* CareerResurrection: This film (along with ''Film/EdgeOfTomorrow'' released the same year) provided Blunt with a much-welcome boost after the StarDerailingRole that was her part in ''Film/{{Gulliver's Travels|2010}}''.

* AllStarCast: The film features Creator/MerylStreep, Creator/JohnnyDepp, Creator/AnnaKendrick, Creator/EmilyBlunt, Creator/ChrisPine, and much more, along with Broadway players Creator/ChristineBaranski, Mackenzie Mauzy, Lilla Crawford and Creator/BillyMagnusson. Talk show host Creator/{{Ellen DeGeneres}} pokes fun at the film's star-studded cast by [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VzIlBnQARIU creating her own trailer]], which lists a comical assortment of celebrities as members of the cast.

** According to OriginalCastPrecedent, the Narrator and the Mysterious Man are played by the same actor (though the script does not mandate such a casting, there's a designated spot in the script after [[spoiler:the Mysterious Man dies]] to reveal they are the same actor). Same goes for Cinderella's Prince and the Wolf, as well as Cinderella's Mother and the Giantess ''and'' Granny. Usually played in an AndYouWereThere fashion, at least for the first two actors.

** In the Central Park production, the Narrator was changed to a young boy so instead the Mysterious Man doubled as Cinderella's Father (played by Chip Zien, the original Baker, in a nice RemakeCameo). And they got Creator/GlennClose to lend her (prerecorded) voice as the Giantess.

* CutSong: "Giants in the Sky", "On the Steps of the Palace", and "Last Midnight" were all replacements for less appropriate songs written earlier. There was also a song called "The Plan" that was cut. However, the initial versions of those songs are included on the original soundtrack; the prototype of "Giants In The Sky" is notable for being so fast-paced that it's nearly unsingable.

** The entire original cast (barring Jean Kelly) reunited for three days in 1989 to perform a taped production as part of Creator/{{PBS}}'s ''American Playhouse.'' The film utilized seven cameras to tape the show at multiple angles, and some pick-up shots were filmed without an audience. This recording was available on VHS and DVD.

* AllStarCast: The film features Creator/MerylStreep, Creator/JohnnyDepp, Creator/AnnaKendrick, Creator/EmilyBlunt, Creator/ChrisPine, and much more, along with Broadway players Creator/ChristineBaranski, Mackenzie Mauzy, Lilla Crawford, and Billy Magnusson. Talk show host Creator/EllenDegeneres pokes fun at the film's star studded cast by [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VzIlBnQARIU creating her own trailer for the film]], which lists a comical assortment of celebrities as members of the cast.

** Both Creator/ChrisPine and James Corden have admitted that the entire reason they pursued parts in the film (as Cinderella's Prince and the Baker, respectively) is because they heard that Creator/MerylStreep was playing The Witch From Next Door.
** Streep herself had consistently refused to portray witches in film for a long time, but made an exception for this film because she wanted to be in a Music/StephenSondheim musical.
* CareerResurrection: This film (along with ''Film/EdgeOfTomorrow'' released the same year) provided Creator/EmilyBlunt with a much-welcome boost after the StarDerailingRole that was her part in ''Film/GulliversTravels2010''.
* TheCastShowOff: Creator/MerylStreep sang all her songs live on set, despite having also pre-recorded them.

** "I Guess This Is Goodbye", "Maybe They're Magic", "Our Little World", "First Midnight", "Second Midnight", "Ever After", "So Happy", "Agony (Reprise)", "No More". Interestingly enough, several cut songs appear in the scenes as background music where the songs were. Listen to the music as the Baker [[spoiler:mourns his wife's passing]] and you'll hear "No More". "Ever After" is the march played as the first "act" ends at Cinderella's wedding, and it transitions into a snippet of "So Happy." Technically, "Cinderella At The Grave" is not cut, but only the mother's part remains (although the "shiver and quiver little tree" melody is heard as Cinderella's dress and slippers appear on her. Its short reprise (where the ghost and birds warn the prince about the slipper) is also cut; the Steward simply notices the blood when assisting Florinda, and Lucinda exposes herself by being completely unable to walk. The melody of "this is the proper bride for you" does return when the prince puts the slipper on Cinderella's foot.
** Also, the film originally had two new songs, "Rainbows" for the Baker and his wife and "She'll Be Back" for the Witch. Both were cut out of the final film.
** A few of the songs were also rewritten. "On The Steps of the Palace" is now primarily in the first person instead of the second, while "Your Fault" is noticeably slower, most likely because the actors couldn't keep up with the pace of the original.

* DawsonCasting: Averted - where Red Riding Hood and Jack are portrayed by younger adults in the stage versions, they're played by actual children in the movie.

** With ''Film/{{Cinderella 2015}}''. In a rare case, two fantasy films released by the same studio (Creator/{{Disney}}) within a span of 4 months will feature Cinderella as one of the central characters.
** Was released one week after the 2014 remake of ''{{Film/Annie|2014}}'', which is based on a Broadway musical. Director Rob Marshall collaborated with Creator/{{Disney}} and the film's distributor Creator/ColumbiaPictures on the successful and well-regarded TV version of ''{{Film/Annie|1999}}'' in 1999 for Creator/{{ABC}}.
* FatalMethodActing: A near-miss. Creator/MerylStreep tripped on her dress while filming the Witch's rap, and fell headfirst towards the concrete floor. James Corden recalls being frozen alongside Rob Marshall, convinced that they were about to see the death of Creator/MerylStreep. Creator/EmilyBlunt--[[PregnantBadass who was five months pregnant at the time, mind you]]--swooped in and caught her.
* HideYourPregnancy: Creator/EmilyBlunt was around 4-6 months pregnant throughout the shoot, so there were many scenes of her lower section being hidden. Amazingly, Blunt's face doesn't look as full as most pregnant women's faces are, so it was hard to tell if she was at all.
* IronyAsSheIsCast: Creator/EmilyBlunt plays a character whose infertility is a plot point. She was pregnant throughout filming. Two years later, she would repeat the irony with her second pregnancy - in ''Literature/TheGirlOnTheTrain''.

* PromotedFanboy: Most of the cast and crew signed on because they enjoyed the musical the film was based on. James Corden has stated that he always wanted to play the Baker in a West End version.
* SeparatedAtBirthCasting: Simon Russell Beale was a good choice to play James Corden's father.

** Director Rob Marshall had considered Creator/CatherineZetaJones, Creator/PenelopeCruz, Creator/NicoleKidman (whom he had previously worked with), Creator/MichellePfeiffer, Creator/DonnaMurphy, Creator/IdinaMenzel, Creator/MirandaRichardson (the last four whom [[{{Film/Stardust}} have]] [[{{WesternAnimation/Tangled}} portrayed]] [[{{Theatre/Wicked}} witches]] [[{{Series/Merlin1998}} before]]), Creator/SissySpacek and Creator/KateWinslet for the Witch before settling on Creator/MerylStreep.
** Creator/EmmaStone was Rob Marshall's first choice for the role of Cinderella but she turned it down, feeling that she didn't have the vocal range. She joked that she'd be better suited to playing Jack instead.

*** The depiction of the Wolf as a sexy, hairy chested man. He also briefly transformed into a real wolf right before he howled during "Hello Little Girl".
*** The fate of the Witch. [[spoiler: Rather than being swallowed up by a sinkhole, she is pulled into the ground by the arms of her mother, much like the outdoor productions]].
*** The fate of Jack's mother. [[spoiler: In the early draft, she is bludgeoned by the Steward as in the stage show, but she manages to get back onto her feet and temporarily help the Baker and his wife find Jack. She eventually succumbs to her head injury, and the Baker comes across her dead body in the woods. This explains how he had found out about her death prior to telling Jack during "No One is Alone"]].
*** The original finale. In the draft, [[spoiler: all of the characters appeared at the end to sing "Children Will Listen", much like the original show. Afterwards, everyone would "disappear" (sans the Baker, Cinderella, Jack, and Little Red), and the rest of the song (a reprise of the title song) would be sung as a voice over. In the final film, the entirety of "Children Will Listen" (after the Baker's Wife's solo) is sung by the Witch and the chorus off screen, and the "Into the Woods" reprise is played over the end credits]].

** Ironically, it wasn't even ''originally'' intended to be a Disney movie. The film was once planned in 1994 with a table reading at Penny Marshall's house from the likes of Creator/RobinWilliams, Creator/GoldieHawn and Music/{{Cher}}. Subsequently, it was in development at Creator/ColumbiaPictures and had [[WesternAnimation/TheLionKing1994 Rob]] [[Film/StuartLittle Mink]][[WesternAnimation/MrPeabodyAndSherman off]] attached as director and Creator/BillyCrystal, Creator/MegRyan and Creator/SusanSarandon in talks to star.

** In earlier drafts, the essential Narrator character from the original stage musical was still part of the story. Before the role was written out of the script, many actors were either considered, in talks, or asked to play the role including Creator/MichaelCaine, Creator/JohnCleese, Creator/MichaelGambon, Creator/JeremyIrons, Creator/JamesEarlJones, Creator/ChristopherPlummer, Creator/AlanRickman and Creator/GeoffreyRush. There were even rumors about giving this role to a female, such as Creator/JulieAndrews or Creator/AngelaLansbury.
* WordOfSaintPaul: Creator/EmilyBlunt and James Corden gave the Baker and his wife the names 'Geoff' and 'Margery' on set.
* WordOfGod: [[http://www.playbill.com/news/article/sondheim-reveals-plot-changes-for-disney-into-the-woods-film-322631 Sondheim tried to convince Disney executives to have Rapunzel killed off in the movie and follow the musical's continuity]]. However, the executives refused, so original stage writer and film screenwriter James Lapine then rewrote the fate of Rapunzel and toned down darker aspects of her character, and a new song "She'll Be Back" was written for the Witch to sing after Rapunzel leaves with her Prince (it was later cut and will be on the Blu-ray release).

** According to OriginalCastPrecedent, the Narrator and the Mysterious Man are played by the same actor. Same goes for Cinderella's Prince and the Wolf, as well as Cinderella's Mother and the Giantess ''and'' Granny. Usually played in an AndYouWereThere fashion, at least for the first two actors.

* CastingGag: In the Central Park production, the role of the Witch was played by Donna Murphy, who previously voiced Mother Gothel in Disney/{{Tangled}}.

* GeniusBonus: In the original fairy tale, Rapunzel is named after the plant her mother craves while pregnant with her. This plant is also sometimes referred to as "rampion," which the Witch is the most upset about the Baker's father stealing from her, making it a stealth reference to the original story.
** Knowing this also explains why Cinderella's Prince makes fun of Rapunzel's name: not many people share a name with a vegetable.

** Was released one week after 2014 remake of ''{{Film/Annie|2014}}'', which is based on a Broadway musical. Director Rob Marshall collaborated with Creator/{{Disney}} and the film's distributor Creator/ColumbiaPictures on the successful and well-regarded TV version of ''{{Film/Annie|1999}}'' in 1999 for Creator/{{ABC}}.

** Was released one week after 2014 remake of ''{{Film/Annie|2014}}'', which is based on a Broadway musical. Director Rob Marshall collaborated with Creator/{{Disney}} and the film's distributor Creator/ColumbiaPictures on the successful and well-regarded {{Film/Annie|1999}} in 1999.

** Was released one week after 2014 remake of ''{{Film/Annie|2014)}}'', which is based on a Broadway musical. Director Rob Marshall collaborated with Creator/{{Disney}} and the film's distributor Creator/ColumbiaPictures on the successful and well-regarded {{Film/Annie|1999}} in 1999.

* DuelingMovies: With ''Film/{{Cinderella 2015}}''. In a rare case, two fantasy films released by the same studio (Creator/{{Disney}}) within a span of 4 months will feature Cinderella as one of the central characters.

** Creator/KathyBates and Creator/AllisonJanney were talks to play Jack's Mother.

* ActorInspiredElement: When Creator/JohnnyDepp was cast as the BigBadWolf, he suggested that the character be designed like the wolf in Creator/TexAvery's ''WesternAnimation/RedHotRidingHood''.

** Creator/KathyBates and Creator/AllisonJane were talks to play Jack's Mother.

** Director Rob Marshall had considered Creator/CatherineZetaJones, Creator/PenelopeCruz, Creator/NicoleKidman (whom he had previously worked with), Creator/MichellePfeiffer, Creator/DonnaMurphy, Creator/IdinaMenzel, Creator/MirandaRichardson (the last four whom [[{{Film/Stardust}} have]] [[{{Disney/Tangled}} portrayed]] [[{{Theatre/Wicked}} witches]] [[{{Series/Merlin1998}} before]]), Creator/SissySpacek and Creator/KateWinslet for the Witch before settling on Creator/MerylStreep.

** Ironically, it wasn't even ''originally'' intended to be a Disney movie. The film was once planned in 1994 with a table reading at Penny Marshall's house from the likes of Creator/RobinWilliams, Creator/GoldieHawn and Music/{{Cher}}. Subsequently, it was in development at Creator/ColumbiaPictures and had [[Disney/TheLionKing Rob]] [[Film/StuartLittle Mink]][[WesternAnimation/MrPeabodyAndSherman off]] attached as director and Creator/BillyCrystal, Creator/MegRyan and Creator/SusanSarandon in talks to star.

** In earlier drafts, the essential Narrator character from the original stage musical was still part of the story. Before the role was written out of the script, many actors were either considered, in talks, or asked to play the role including
Creator/MichaelCaine, Creator/JohnCleese, Creator/MichaelGambon, Creator/JeremyIrons, Creator/JamesEarlJones, Creator/ChristopherPlummer, Creator/AlanRickman and Creator/GeoffreyRush. There were even rumors about giving this role to a female, such as Creator/JulieAndrews or Creator/AngelaLansbury.

* ActorAllusion: Donna Murphy played the Witch in the Central Park production two years after voicing Mother Gothel, a similar character, in Disney's ''{{Disney/Tangled}}''.

* ActorAllusion:
** Creator/ChrisPine [[Film/ThePrincessDiaries has played a prince before]]. He's also putting a whole lot of Creator/WilliamShatner into his performance... which makes sense since he's Kirk in the 2009 ''[[Film/StarTrek2009 Star Trek]]'' reboot.
** Creator/LucyPunch is once again [[Film/EllaEnchanted one of Cinderella's stepsisters]]. As well as two obscure British films, this is the ''fourth'' time she has played an incarnation of Cinderella's stepsister.
** It's [[Literature/TheDevilWearsPrada not the first time]] Creator/MerylStreep's character has a hand in screwing Creator/EmilyBlunt's character over, either.
*** Funnily enough, all three films starred Creator/AnneHathaway.
** Frances de la Tour plays a giantess after having played [[Film/HarryPotterAndTheGobletOfFire a half-one]].
** Only twice in her career, Creator/MerylStreep has played [[Film/DeathBecomesHer a character looking to regain her youth and beauty]].

** [=YouTube=] star Sophie Grace Brownlee of Sophie Grace and Rosie was originally cast as Red Riding Hood, but was replaced with Lilla Crawford when it was decided Brownlee was too young.
** Director Rob Marshall had considered Creator/CatherineZetaJones, Creator/PenelopeCruz, Creator/NicoleKidman (whom he had previously worked with), Creator/MichellePfeiffer, Donna Murphy, Creator/IdinaMenzel, Miranda Richardson (the last four whom [[{{Film/Stardust}} have]] [[{{Disney/Tangled}} portrayed]] [[{{Theatre/Wicked}} witches]] [[{{Series/Merlin1998}} before]]), and Creator/KateWinslet for the Witch before settling on Creator/MerylStreep.

** Ironically, it wasn't even ''originally'' intended to be a Disney movie. The film was once planned in 1994 with a table reading at Penny Marshall's house from the likes of Creator/RobinWilliams, Creator/GoldieHawn and Music/{{Cher}}. Subsequently, it was in development at Creator/ColumbiaPictures and had [[Disney/TheLionKing Rob]] [[Film/StuartLittle Mink]][[WesternAnimation/MrPeabodyAndSherman off]] attached as director and Billy Crystal, Creator/MegRyan and Creator/SusanSarandon in talks to star.
** Creator/JimCarrey, Creator/JohnnyDepp, and Creator/NeilPatrickHarris were all considered for the Baker.

** Creator/ChrisPine [[Film/ThePrincessDiaries has played a prince before]]. He's also putting a whole lot of Creator/WilliamShatner into his performance... which makes sense since he's Kirk in the ''Film/StarTrek'' reboot.