Sci-Fi Film and Television Developments

Oz, The Great and Powerful

7/5/12 - New poster released!

7/26/11 – Directed by Sam Raimi, the Wizard of Oz reboot began filming on Monday, July 25th at the brand-new Raleigh Studios in Pontiac, Michigan, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Oz The Great and Powerful is set for a March 8, 2013 release.  James Franco stars in the Disney flick as the title character from L. Frank Baum’s beloved story. As a Kansas circus musician with questionable ethics, Oscar Diggs somehow finds himself in the magical Land of Oz. Mila Kunis, Rachel Weisz and Michelle Williams play a trio of witches who question whether or not this new stranger is really the great wizard they’ve been hoping for.  Zach Braff joins the cast as Diggs’ circus assistant, in addition to lending his voice to a CGI created winged monkey named Finley, who will accompany the future wizard on his journey to Oz. Ramona and Beezus star Joey King will also voice a CGI character.

5/25/11 - Disney set a release date for Oz: The Great and Powerful as March 8, 2013.  Directed by Sam Raimi, Oz is a prequel to the classic movie The Wizard of Oz.  Oz stars James Franco as a young circus magician whose hot air balloon is transported to the land of Oz, where he becomes the wizard. Mitchell Kapner and David Lindsay-Abaire penned the script. Mila Kunis is set to star as one of the two magical witches who control Oz, while Michelle Williams and Rachel Weisz are in final talks to join the cast.  Joe Roth is producing.

5/17/11 – The Hollywood Reporter said Michelle Williams has been offered the role of Glinda, the good witch, in Oz: The Great and Powerful, Disney's prequel-ish take on The Wizard of Oz tale that stars James Franco and Mila Kunis and is being directed by Sam Raimi .  Kunis is on board as Theadora, a witch who falls for Franco. Rachel Weisz is in talk to play sister Evanora, the evil witch who wants to rule the land and tries to seduce Theadora to the dark side.  Oz centers on Franco as a snake oil salesman who finds himself dealing with real magic when his balloon carries him into a fabled land and he runs into genuine witches.

3/25/11 - Variety reported that Mila Kunis will play Theodora, the youngest sister of three witches, in Oz, the Great and Powerful.  Kunis will co-star opposite James Franco, who portrays a fast-talking snake oil salesman and illusionist who flees a traveling circus and winds up whisked away in a hot air balloon by a tornado to Oz where he must face off against real magic and the sisters battling for control of the land.  Theodora starts out as a good witch, alongside her beautiful sister Glinda, but after her sexual advances are jilted by Franco's salesman, she's convinced by Evanora to switch sides and help her older sister rule Oz.  Sam Raimi helms Oz this summer from a script by David Lindsay-Abaire. Joe Roth produces.

1/20/11 - Robert Downey Jr. has fallen out of Oz, the Great and Powerful, Disney’s prequel take on The Wizard of Oz tale, and the studio is in discussions with Johnny Depp to step into the great wizard’s robe.  Sam Raimi is due to direct the tale of Oz as a young illusionist with a grandiose attitude who is forced to flee a traveling circus. His hot air balloon is swept up by a tornado to the land of Oz, which is run by two magical wicked witches.  Production may start in the second half of the year.  Disney is hoping not to miss a beat with Oz. It has hired a unit production manager and begun the task of creating the world of Oz.

6/15/10 - According to Entertainment Weekly, Sam Raimi is in talks with Disney to direct Oz, The Great and Powerful.  The studio reportedly offered Raimi the job over the week and both parties are said to be finalizing the financial details.  The director will reportedly begin pre-production shortly if the project comes together.

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