Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike Tony nominee Billy Magnussen is in final negoations to replace Jake Gyllenhaal in the big screen adaptation of Into the Woods, according to Deadline.com. Magnussen would play Rapunzel’s Prince opposite Chris Pine as Cinderella’s Prince in the Rob Marshall-helmed movie musical.
Magnussen made a splash with his Tony-nominated performance as Sigourney Weaver’s dim-witted, nearly naked boy-toy Spike in the Tony-winning play by Christopher Durang. The actor made his Broadway debut in the 2007 revival of The Ritz. His screen credits include Boardwalk Empire, The East, Damsels In Distress and Revenge of the Green Dragons. He also plays in the band Reserved for Rondee.
Magnussen is the latest stage vet to join the roster of A-list stars attached to the Stephen Sondheim/James Lapine musical, including Meryl Streep, Johnny Depp, Emily Blunt, James Corden, Tracey Ullman, Daniel Huttlestone and Christine Baranski.
Check out Magnussen singing and playing guitar in the clip below.