Del Toro set to helm Roald Dahl's The Witches

According to Empire, Alfonso Cuaron is set to produce a new stop-motion animation film of Roald Dahl’s The Witches, with Guillermo Del Toro (Pan's Labyrinth, Hellboy II) directing.

It had been thought that Cuaron (who directed Children Of Men, Harry Potter And The Prisoner Of Azkaban and Y Tu Mama Tambien) would helm the film himself, but it seems his buddy Del Toro banged out a great screenplay and will now take charge.

The Witches caused controversy on its publication with its dark themes and crude humour – considered by conservative types to be too racy for kids, but considered by kids to be just great, thanks very much. Nicholas Roeg made it into a live action film starring Anjelica Huston in 1990.

With Del Toro on board, the new version could be a belter.

[Ed's note: Another stop-motion animated, Roald Dahl adaptation under way is The Fantastic Mr. Fox, being directed by Wes Anderson.]