There is a huge list of horror films from olden times that have scared you with visualization of spine-chilling scenes. Well if you have been a fan of action horror films then you must have watched Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters. Tommy Wirkola is the man who wrote the story and is also behind the wonderful direction of this film. It came eight years ago.
Hansel & Gretel is the follow-up of a folklore fairy tale from Germany of a similar name. Unlike films that have solo leading characters, it has two. And they are siblings – a sister and brother having titular names. Both work as a pair of witch hunters who are hired for this purpose.
The actors playing the titular roles are Jeremy Renner and Gemma Arterton. Besides them, there are other supporting casts including Pihla Viitala, Famke Janssen, Derel Mears, and others. Eleven years ago, when the production company Gary Sanchez Productions approached Tommy Wirkola, he presented the action horror film to the American film and television production and distribution company Paramount Pictures.
Where Renner was the final choice for the role of Hansel in the film, the character of Gretel was first given to the Swedish actress Noomi Rapace. But in January 2011, the final casting of Gretel’s role ended with Gemma Arterton. The prime photography for Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters took place mainly in Germany at Babelsberg Studio.
The film was completed in the same year during June. But when it was scheduled for release in 2012, the film got delayed for ten months. The reason was Renner’s commitment to other film projects – The Avengers and The Bourne Legacy.
Then in 2013 came the theatrical release of Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters on 25th January in the U.S. It was released in 2D and 3D as well as in 4DX theaters. After the release, the film failed to impress the conventional critics for not-so-strong script and unwanted insertion of violent scenes.
However, it did gain a positive response from genre critics. Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters even proved to be a domestic box office hit in the opening weekend, and became a huge success around the world. Now there have been rumors about the sequel of this action horror film. Well, let us know the truth about it in this article.
Show Details
| Movie: | Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters |
| Genre: | Action-horror |
| Written by: | Tommy Wirkola |
| Directed by: | Tommy Wirkola |
| Place Of Origin: | United States and Germany |
| Star cast: | Jeremy Renner, Gemma Arterton, Famke Janssen, Peter Stormare & others |
| Original language: | English |
| Budget: | $50 million |
| Box office: | $226.3 million |
Story plot
Hansel and Gretel are two siblings left in the forest by their father. Both brother and sister make an entrance into the gingerbread house and are caught by a human flesh-eating witch. Hansel is coerced by her to consume sweets so that he gains weight and makes Gretel her slave. However, both brother and sister outwit the witch and get her burned in the oven.
After 15 years, both Hansel and Gretel turn into adults and together form a union in becoming the witch hunters. But both of them are somehow vulnerable to curses and spells. Ever since the experience in a gingerbread house, there has been a change in Hansel who is influenced by magic-formed diabetes. For survival, he needs the dose of insulin in every short duration.
Now both the sibling duo enter Augsburg town. Here they save a beautiful young girl from the clutches of Sheriff Berringer who was about to be executed in the witchcraft ritual. Witnessing their prowess, Hansel and Gretel get hired by Mayor Englemann for the special task of saving children missing from the town and are thought to be captured by witches.
On the other side, the power-hungry Sheriff hires men for a similar motive aiming to discredit the mayor and bind his power. Witch hunters Hansel and Gretel manage to nab a horned witch. Both come to know about the real intention of witches who are curious about their preparation for the approaching Blood Moon. It is the occasion when they would put an end to the lives of children as per their sacrificial ritual. And by doing it, they would free themselves from their biggest vulnerability, which is fire.
Slaying Muriel
Both Hansel and Gretel had a tougher face-off with Muriel, the witch throughout the film. But she gets killed with a shovel by them during the end. After decapitating her, both the sibling duo put her on fire, and gain accolades for saving the lives of children from her deadly clutches. After that they venture out for their next witch hunt, this time having the company of two other characters Ben and Edward.
Briefing about the main cast
Jeremy Renner
Jeremy Renner plays the character Hansel, the brother of another witch hunter Gretel in the Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters movie. Jeremy is an American actor from America born in 1971 on 7th January. He has appeared in many films including The Avengers, S.W.A.T, The Hurt Locker, Captain America: Civil War (as Hawkeye), Avengers Endgame, and Black Widow (again as Hawkeye). Jeremy has also been active in television series like Deadly Games, Time of Your Life, Robot Chicken, Louie, and Hawkeye.
Gemma Arterton
She is a British actor and film producer. Gemma plays the character of Gretel, the sister of Hansel played by actor Jeremy Renner in the action-horror film Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters. Gemma was born in 1986 on February 2, in England. She has appeared in many films like Quantum of Solace, Byzantium, 100 Streets, Summerland, and the latest 2021 movie The King’s Man. Gemma has also acted in TV shows including Urban Myths, Inside No. 9, Capturing Mary, and Black Narcissus.
Will there be Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters 2?
There had been rumors in the past about the sequel of Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters. But there is little hope for it. But it might be possible that Paramount would come up with a television series based on the witch-hunter’s duo. As of now, no official confirmation has come so far about its release.