Will Ferrell attached to Hansel and Gretel

Will Ferrell and Adam McKay produce Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters.

Tommy Wirkola, the Norwegian director behind the Nazi-zombie pic Dead Snow will make his U.S. debut with Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters.


The project will be produced by Gary Sanchez Productions and run by funnyman Will Ferrell and his frequent director Adam McKay.


The storyline picks up the titular characters as bounty hunters, years after they ran into that nasty old crone with the gingerbread house. “The idea is, they’ve grown up and they hunt witches,” McKay tells the trade.


“It’s a hybrid sort of old-timey feeling, yet there’s pump-action shotguns. Modern technology but in an old style. We heard it and we were just like, ‘That’s a freakin’ franchise! You could make three of those!’ ”


Joining him and Ferrell on the producing side will be Kevin Messick and Chris Henchy.