Universal denies dropping Kristen Stewart from next "Snow White"

LOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) - Kristen Stewart may reprise her role as Snow White after all.

Universal Pictures has denied a report stating that the studio had dropped the actress from the project in the aftermath of her infidelities with the original "Snow White and the Huntsman" director Rupert Sanders.

"We are extremely proud of 'Snow White and the Huntsman' and we're currently exploring all options to continue the franchise," Donna Langely, the co-chairman of Universal Pictures, said in a statement to TheWrap. "Any reports that Kristen Stewart has been dropped are false."

The Hollywood Reporter cited unnamed sources on Tuesday saying Universal dropped Stewart from the next film in the franchise.

Universal has been planning a sequel to this summer's film, which was a modest success at the box office, with a production budget of $170 million and a global gross of roughly $389 million.

It appears Universal is particularly interested in a spinoff focused on the Huntsman character, played by Chris Hemsworth.

Whether the next film is a straight-up sequel or a spinoff, the studio is not searching for a new Snow White. This was corroborated to TheWrap by another individual with knowledge of the situation.

The studio is looking to hire new writers as David Koepp was hired to write a sequel rather than a spinoff.

It remains unclear whether Sanders would direct, though it's hard to imagine he would be given the recent tabloid frenzy sparked by his extramarital romance with Stewart.

Sanders is married, and Stewart was dating "Twilight" co-star Robert Pattinson.

Universal has optioned the Dean Unkefer book "90 Church: the True Story of the Narcotics Squad From Hell," with Sanders likely directing, reuniting him with producers Joe Roth and Palak Patel.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/universal-denies-dropping-kristen-stewart-next-snow-white-124818518.html

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