Know Your Men Behind the Curtain: Updating the 4 Wizard of Oz Projects
With The Karate Kid and The A-Team one-two at the box office, clearly originality has gone out the window. And so maybe remaking The Wizard of Oz isn't such a bad idea after all. Besides, eventually everything gets the reboot treatment, right guys? (Citizen Kane you're on notice!) And yet, does anyone really need to see four different versions of The Wizard of Oz -- and two from Warner Brothers alone? Well, too bad! They're happening anyway. Since you can't tell a player without a scorecard, after the jump Movieline helps you parse through the four Oz projects. Follow the yellowbrick road...
· Oz, the Great and Powerful
The hottest of all the Oz projects -- it's a prequel! -- and the most likely to hit theaters sometime before armageddon. Vulture exclusively reports that Sam Raimi has been offered the director's chair, beating out both Sam Mendes and Adam Shankman. No word yet on Oz himself, but when Mendes was the top choice to direct, Robert Downey Jr. was in talks. And there's always Johnny Depp. With Raimi possibly on board though, here's hoping for Bruce Campbell.
· The Wizard of Oz
The first of Warner Brothers Oz films. This one comes from the pen of Josh Olson, who wrote A History of Violence and is said to be a little darker in tone. You think? Back in January, Olson said his film was going to be a modern-day set sequel to the original film, so -- if it ever does happen -- expect to see Rachel McAdams as New Dorothy.
· Oz
And the second Warner Brothers film -- though Oz is set up at Warner-owned New Line. Shrek Forever After writer Darren Lemke is handling the script and Marty Bowen and Wyck Godfrey (Twilight) are producing. Not much is known about this incarnation, but it's either a remake, prequel or sequel -- and will probably eventually include both vampires and Robert Pattinson.
· Dorothy of Oz
Indie animation studio Summertime Entertainment actually seems closest to getting their Oz film in theaters. So, huzzah to them! Dorothy of Oz isn't actually a sequel or a prequel -- rather, it comes from a chapter in an Oz-related book by the grandson of original Wizard of Oz writer L. Frank Baum. Dorothy has a few things going for it: 1.) It's going to be shot for 3D; 2.) It's a musical; 3.) Bryan Adams will write some songs for it; and 4.) Lea Michele has been cast as Dorothy. The Wizard of Oz, Glee and 3D together at once? Think of the ticket sales!
Subscribe to the new Movieline on YouTube
Comments
Throw the word 'remake' out the window, Christopher, because the 1939 film and the films before it (and now after it) came from the Baum book. Ergo, no remaking to be had, just good ol' fashioned adaptations.
Just quietly, though, all these projects sound very cocksuckery.
With a dozen Oz books by Baum, why not adapt some of the others?
How about giving Fairuza Balk another shot at Dorothy? She's not onscreen nearly enough as it is.
Ummm, no. That's not how it works. The film version of the Wizard of Oz was not an accurate portrayal of the book. Now if any of these films follows the film version closer than the book, then that would be a remake of the film
Is Dorothy of Oz going to be a animated film, because it says Lea Michelle has been cast to *voice* the role of Dorothy?
I just want Wicked movie starring Eden Espinosa as Elphaba the Witch.
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=154321536326&ref=ts
There are hundreds of other pages aimed to explicate related info. But nowhere else I found it managed in such respectable manner.
Hi there, just wanted to say, I enjoyed this blog post.
It was inspiring. Keep on posting!
It's appropriate time to make some plans for the long run and it is time
to be happy. I have learn this post and if I may just I want to counsel you few interesting issues or advice.
Maybe you could write subsequent articles referring to this
article. I desire to learn more things about
it!
Howdy! This is mmy first comment here so I just wanted to give a quick shout out and say I
really enjoy reading through your articles.
Can you recommewnd any other blogs/websites/forums thst cover the samje subjects?
Thanks a ton!
You made some good points there. I looked on the internet
for additional information about the issue and found most people will go along with your views on
this web site.
Its not my first time to pay a quick visit this site,
i am browsing this web page dailly and take fastidious facts from here every day.
Oh my goodness! Incredible article dude! Thank you
so much, However I am having issues with your RSS.
I don't know the reason why I cannot join it. Is there anyone
else having identical RSS problems? Anybody who knows the solution will you
kindly respond? Thanx!!