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!