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First Image: ‘Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters’

With a darker, more mature tone than the Brothers Grimm story it’s based upon, Tommy Wirkola’s Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters envisions the siblings as witch-hunting adults. It sounds like a very hit-or-miss concept, but it’s surprising as many darker takes on fairytales have been popping up as of late.

Gemma Arterton and Jeremy Renner respectively star as Gretel and Hansel; the former recently sat down with Entertainment Weekly to discuss her role in the film. She had quite a bit to say about how she and Renner tackled the issue of sibling chemistry:

“We spent a lot of time thinking about [being protective] and behaving like brother and sister, making it detailed so it wasn’t just two actors kicking butt, really. That would get boring. In our minds, these are two people who grew up with no parents and they only have each other and the bond they have, and with the complexities of that, some resentment.

[…]

Jeremy and I found within the script moments where we showed the vulnerable side of them. Often in action movies, people are scared to put that in. I think it was important. Just a couple moments, tender moments, when the guard drops, then you understand.”

Arterton also relays that Gretel has an open mind and free spirit, while Hansel’s more of “a typical action hero.” We’ve also got a photo of both Arterton and Renner that you can check out below.

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