It looks like The Nutcracker is getting a Game of Thrones-style journey through the lands of gods and men, as Disney has released the first images from next year’s holiday fantasy film, The Nutcracker and the Four Realms. Winter is here, and so are the sweet treats.
According to the plot synopsis, The Nutcracker and the Four Realms follows Clara as she travels through several realms in order to get a key that will unlock a special treasure from her mother. Played by 17-year-old Mackenzie Foy (Interstellar), Clara must go through the Land of Snowflakes, the Land of Flowers, and the Land of Sweets, where Keira Knightley’s Sugar Plum Fairy lives. But beware, because Helen Mirren’s Mother Ginger rules a fourth realm that’s way nastier.
You might notice that only one of those realms actually exists in the original ballet. It looks like in order to make the story longer, and add some of that Westerosi charm, they have thrown in a bunch of Narnia worlds to give the movie more variety. It’s weird, but at least it’s original. It’s also promising that the film is being directed by Lasse Hallström, whose previous credits include What’s Eating Gilbert Grape. It will be interesting to see what he does with the story.
According to Entertainment Weekly, who had the first images, the movie includes plot points from both the ballet and E.T.A. Hoffmann’s original 1816 story, which I really hope means a seven-headed mouse king. That character, amount of heads to be determined, will be a CG creation with movement by dancer Lil Buck. There will also be a ballet performance, helmed by prima ballerina Misty Copeland.
The Nutcracker and the Four Realms comes out November 2, 2018.