Total Film has an exclusive interview with Guillermo Del Toro on his future projects.  Nothing earth-shattering, but GDT does mention some interesting points that I had not heard before.  Here are the high points that I found interesting:

• HAUNTED MANSION:  Will definitely not be a comedy. It will be “exciting”, “thrilling” and “spooky”.  GDT and Matthew Robbins have finished the screenplay and will turn it in to Disney.  GDT got to walk on foot through the Mansion and take notes.
• FRANKENSTEIN: No screenplay yet, describes it as a “daunting” project that is a “peak” to his career, like MOUNTAINS OF MADNESS. He has some very daring storytelling ideas for this one, and feels he needs to get better as a director before he can tackle it.
• DR. JEKYLL AND MR. HYDE: Wants to write and produce this one – not direct.  Is interested in exploring the themes of addiction for this one – specifically likes the concept of feeling liberated as Mr. Hyde during Victorian Times (so definitely a period piece).
• PACIFIC RIM: “the biggest project I have ever made in scope and ambition…” 
• THE WITCHES: He is trying to “preserve the pathos and the darkness” of the original work, which is making it difficult to make in Hollywood.  The screenplay is VERY faithful to the original Dahl book.
• SATURN AND THE END OF DAYS: Screenplay still isn’t done yet – a very challenging story about a boy watching the apocolypse from his bedroom window.  It will definitely be a small, European production.
• TROLLHUNTERS: I expect this to be an animated film, probably at Dreamworks.  GDT is co-writing the screenplay with Tom Wheeler, who wrote PUSS IN BOOTS.  He is co-directing with Spanish animator Rodrigo Baas.  Will be an adventure movie for kids.  Will feature “real kids”, not movie kids – which I take to mean that he is dumping the typical kid-movie cliches.

According to SciFi Wire, Variety magazine is reporting that Guillermo’s screenplay The Witches will be filmed for Warner Bros, thanks to GDT’s friendship with Alfonso Cuaron, who just signed a three year deal with WB.

Cuaron will produce, and GDT will direct this adaption of Roald Dahl’s novel.

Our friend Typhon24 at CountingDown.com has scooped some info regarding Guillermo’s The Witches project:

“Finally, and this was news to me, del Toro has recently handed in a draft of a new adaptation of Roald Dahl’s classic children’s work, THE WITCHES. Del Toro was excited about this new project, which he hopes to direct in addition to writing, saying that he plans to make his take scarier and more faithful than the previous film adaptation, hoping to make what he called ‘horror for kids.’”

Well done, Typhon24!!!