As We Wished... Princess Buttercup Grows Up, Becomes Warrior Queen

Possibly the biggest fairy tale news trend this week is: it turns out Princess Buttercup grew up train Wonder Woman (as the Amazon warrior General Antiope)

Robin Wright, who played Buttercup in 1987, also plays the Amazon warrior General Antiope in the new Wonder Woman movie, and it's resonating with people everywhere, especially those who grew up with The Princess Bride.

It wasn't predictable, yet it seems... 'right'. For the generations that were inspired by Robin Wright's feisty farm girl-turned princess in The Princess Bride (a genre-defying treatment of fairy tales at the time), to see that heroine 'grow up' and become more of what she naturally seems to have been, developed fully through to a resistant warrior general, who still manages to hope and believe in love, seems a continuation of Buttercup's fairy tale - and one that fits the fairy tale heroine we always saw her to be, and now can be inspired by - in a fresh way - again.

For our Fairy Tale News Room folks, who are extremely happy about the Wonder Woman movie, that the movie is as good as we hoped it would be, and that generations of girls - and boys - will grow up with Diana as a relevant and respected role model (rather than being 'genre-d' to a corner with the comic books geeks, like she often so sadly has been), it's this depiction of an already strong fairy tale princess coming into her own that inspires us most.

After recently seeing another role model princess, Leia, become a general and have that resonate louder and stronger than Disney and filmmakers expected, Buttercup's 'fairy tale part II', is the groundwork of more of the same to come: princess power of a different sort. The kind of princess power where it's clear it isn't just the sword* that makes the warrior but the spirit.

We've had a lot of those fairy tale princesses appear in novels for some years now, but it speaks volumes to have the general public instantly recognize - and resonate with - a fairy tale heroine, become whom she was meant to be, and that her fairy tale representation is part of that. This is now in pop culture, recognized by society, rather than just by a select group who have been tracking strong fairy tale females all along.

Best of all, for those women especially, who have had this revelation and are thirsty for more fairy tale heroines to 'own it', we have already accumulated a whole lot of stories, books, collections and more to share.

Here's a great excerpt from Tor.com's article that appeared not long after we began our own, titled "Princess Buttercup Became the Warrior General Who Trained Wonder Woman, All Dreams Are Now Viable":

Antiope is the whispered possibility that many of us never dared to dream. What if (Buttercup) had grown in strength and stubbornness and power until she could train one of the greatest warriors of all time? What if Buttercup, who believed so desperately in love, had passed that wisdom on to a young girl who would hold that belief in trust for every person she met? What if that line between a princess bride and Princess Diana is as thin as a page in a storybook?
...Of all the outcomes, we somehow received the reality where Buttercup moved on to master archery and serve an Amazon queen and command legions. ...This progression seems not just plausible, but essential. It is an epilogue of a different kind.

We recommend reading the whole article. It's very uplifting and celebrates strong fairy tale females who have inspired generations, as well as new and timely role models for girls and women who could use a little inspiration again. It also doesn't downgrade the importance of fairy tales in this process of 'becoming'. If anything, the article underlines the importance of fairy tales in the process, and that, even when empowerment is achieved, it's in our best interest to continue holding them close.

We don't outgrow fairy tales. They can become part of us, even as they enable us to get there. Buttercup doesn't need to become Dread Pirate Roberts to 'fulfill her destiny'. The point is that, if she wanted to, she totally could.

* And yes, we don't mind swords - or arrows - either!

As You Wished: "The Princess Bride" Heads To Broadway, Cary Elwes Is Writing A Princess Bride (Movie) Tales Memoir & More

Since we all fell in love with the 1987 film of The Princess Bride, no one has been able to top the production or add any (large) incarnation or adaptation to the "franchise", despite best efforts. First there was the novel, then the movie but then nothing Princess-Bride related has stuck past early development (beyond comic books, trading cards, new covers and various one-off art works and cosplay). Until now.

I've gone to write a post on this a couple of times but each time I do there's more Princess Bride news to add (must be Princess Bride season). I can't wait any longer - I must share!

Here's the (very happy and enthusiastic) announcement, care of broadway.com, with additional statements from Disney Theatricals Productions Producer, Tom Schumacher, and the original novel writer William Goldman:

Get out your swords, because Inigo Montoya, Westley, Buttercup and Vizzini could be heading to Broadway! Disney Theatrical Productions is readying a stage adaptation of the beloved 1973 novel and 1987 film, The Princess Bride. No casting, creative team, dates or theater have been announced, but we’ve got our fingers crossed (all six of them) that the show will premiere on the Great White Way soon. 

“The Princess Bride has proven to be an enduring delight and a beloved favorite to multiple generations,” said Thomas Schumacher, president and producer of Disney Theatrical Productions, in a statement. “What William Goldman created is first and foremost a celebration of storytelling; what better place to spin that tale than on the stage?” 

“I am thrilled that the next chapter in the life of The Princess Bride will unfold on the stage,” said author William Goldman. “With [Walt Disney Studios chairman] Alan Horn, Thomas Schumacher and his team at Disney Theatrical Productions leading the way, Buttercup, Westley and all of Florin are in the best of hands.”

No word yet on whether it will be a musical or a straight (but very funny) play, or who the creative team will be. From all I've read, it's looking less likely it will be a musical, though all the online media are busy speculating and wishing on a list of songs that "must" be included (please do NOT turn "My Name Is Inigo Montoya, You Killed My Father, Prepare To Die", into a song!). All we know is that a composer who has been working on a musical adaptation of Princess Bride on and off since 2005, recently announced he is no longer attached to any Princess Bride project, apparently due to creative differences with author William Goldman. (He did say, however, that he's keeping his work in a drawer for using in a some other fairy tale project, should that possibility ever raise its head)

Here's a video of the announcement, with some fun clips included - new and old - as well:

In a suitably timely manner, Houghton Mifflen Harcourt has released a very special, newly illustrated edition, with 50 beautiful images by artist Michael Manomivibul (see the cover at left and the illustration below). There are two (lovely and lengthy) introductions included in the book - one for the 30th edition and the one from the 25th edition, which give a lot of background on the development of the movie in particular and in this edition, Goldman's additional short story, Buttercup's Baby ,is also included. (You can read a lot of the introduction in the "look inside" preview at amazon.com).

And there's more news too: Cary Elwes is writing a memoir, all about his fond memories from his involvement in The Princess Bride movie. From StarTribune:

The actor has a deal with Touchstone, an imprint of Simon & Schuster, for a memoir about the beloved fairy tale. The book is called "As You Wish: Tales from the Princess Bride." Touchstone announced Friday that it has scheduled publication for the fall of 2014. 

Rob Reiner, who directed "The Princess Bride," is contributing a foreword. The book, to be co-written by Joe Layden, also will include interviews with Billy Crystal, Robin Wright and other cast members from the 1987 production.

I'm actually looking forward to Elwes' book. Since we never really got a real "movie book" for The Princess Bride, this should be a fun addition to the library (I really hope there are pictures!).

So: lots of Princess Bride news! With all this news, I expect to see an explosion of Princess Bride fan art in the immediate future as well (yes please!). Regarding PB's journey to Broadway in particular, you can sign up HERE to be notified of any official news as it develops.

More on "Galavant" (+ Some Bonus "Princess Bride" Illustrations)

by Sarah Mensinga

Do you remember the announcement on this new TV series I snuck into the blog at the beginning of the month HERE?

The casting call from Disney/ABC has gone out for their fairy tale musical comedy TV series in development, Galavant, and with it, a little more info on the premise.

by Seth Hippen

The show's casting director has begun auditioning actors for series regulars and possible recurring roles, including the title role of Galavant and his true love Madalena. Other roles include Kings and Queens, a Princess, henchman and a squire, among others. The actors are required to have Broadway singing style skills. The show's extras will be hired closer to the beginning of production, which does not have an exact start date yet. 

by Tracie Timmer

by Jeff Victor

"Galavant" is a classic storybook fairytale series that centers on a hero who gives up chasing dragons and saving damsels when the love of his life marries the evil King because she wants his wealth. But when a princess comes seeking his help he takes on the challenge, however she isn't completely honest with him. Two-time Annie Awards nominee Dan Fogelman is executive producing and writing, while Eight-time Academy Award winner Alan Menken will compose the music. Academy Award winner Glenn Slater is writing the lyrics. (Examiner)

by nthornborrow

If you're in LA, have "Broadway singing skills", and interested in auditioning, you can find the details HERE. Also, break a leg!

by RachelAnn Design

In the meantime, and for everyone else, enjoy some Princess Bride illustrations in which a "prince" is kept quite occupied getting his princess back (via a few detours along the way, like becoming a pirate). :) If you haven't read The Princess Bride, do yourself a favor and get a copy (then read it). This is one story where it's worth having the movie AND the book.

by Leslie Ditto

The Princess Bride @LACMA Live Read Event

 From G1988:

We've produced another poster for the ongoing Film Independent @ LACMA Live Read Series w/ Jason Reitman and this is the best yet. Matt Owen has done it again, getting even more love from Entertainment Weekly this time, as Reitman has recast the classic movie "The Princess Bride," and this new generation of actors will perform a table read of the script live and in person on December 15th. The tickets sold out in about 15 seconds flat, but there will be a stand-by line that night, and this time, WE'LL BE SELLING THESE POSTERS THERE! There were only 100 made, and they are beautiful. Past live read events have included The Breakfast Club (where Jennifer Garner, Aaron Paul & James Van Der Beek took roles) and The Apartment (where Pierce Brosnan, Natalie Portman & Steve Carrel joined). Jason keeps the cast a mystery until the last minute, but he has announced Patton Oswalt (in the Vizzini/Wallace Shawn role) and G1988 homie Nick Kroll (in the Count Rugen/Christopher Guest role), so this one will not be a let down.

We will be outside the auditorium before and after the read, so even if you don't have tickets, you can purchase a poster if you like.

 You may be aware that there was a cast reunion of The Princess Bride recently which included much ad-libbing and fun photos (yep, the Princess Bride cast are Princess Bride geek fans too! lol). The only sad thing from the reunion seemed to be that André René Roussimoff a.k.a. André the Giant couldn't be there with them (he died in 1993).

The Princess Bride cast then...

 

And now...

 Click the image above for a larger view. You can also see additional contemporary single portraits of cast members from the reunion event HERE.

This G1988/LACMA live read event on December 15th, follows on from that - finding a new generation of actors who can wear the shoes of Princess Buttercup, Wesley and all our other favorites.

This sounds like a lot of fun. And what gorgeous posters. (Only 100 made? I do not want to guess how much they will be selling for!) Here's hoping someone will tape the event and release some of it for us this week.