Nicolas Cage Taps Jay Baruchel to be ‘Sorcerer’s Apprentice’
Say “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice” and everyone immediately imagines robed Mickey Mouse accidentally unleashing magical powers he cannot control and chaos erupts. It was a delightful segment from Fantasia, but was based on Goethe’s 1797 poem Der Zauberlehrling. The basic story has been the inspiration for novels, a kids’ television series and even a BBC radio drama.
But, for the first time, it will be the basis for a live action film with Nicolas Cage portraying the sorcerer and Jay Baruchel (Tropic Thunder) to play the apprentice according to Variety. The film will be directed by Jon Turtletaub and produced by Jerry Bruckheimer. Lawrence Konner and Mark Rosenthal (Star Trek V) wrote the initial script which has been rewritten by Matt Lopez (Bedtime Stories).
The Sorcerer’s Apprentice brings the action to modern day New York and starts with Cage seeking an apprentice until he finds Baruchel.
this is a project that makes perfect sense
Interesting factoid: The "Sorceror's Apprentice" sequence in *Fantasia* originally was originally animated with Dopey, not Mickey (it would certainly be a more appropriate characterisation); Dopey's characteristic body language remains.