'PAY NO ATTENTION TO THAT MAN BEHIND THE CURTAIN'

WALT DISNEY PICTURES PRESENTS OZ: THE GREAT AND POWERFUL’

Penned as a prequel to Frank L. Baum’s infamous 1900 work ‘The Wonderful Wizard of Oz’, the latest silver screen adaptation; Oz: The Great and Powerful is the story we all know and love, with a twist. It is to be told from the wizard’s point of view. Chronicling a young man’s humble beginnings as a circus wrangler in Omaha, the film will see him arrive in a magical land by accident, (involving a wayward hot air balloon) where he is mistaken for a wise wizard.

Directed by Sam Raimi (Spiderman), this re-working of a fantasy classic is scheduled to begin shooting this July in Michigan and will air in the UK on 8^th March 2013. Producer Joe Roth has announced the film’s theatrical debut will be in eye-popping 3D, hoping to replicate the success of his last collaboration with Disney; Alice in Wonderland which was a worldwide success.

Hoping to set the film apart from previous revisions, is it’s star studded line up. The role of the protagonist will go to James Franco, who has been cast opposite some formidable leading ladies. Mila Kunis is to play ‘Theodora’, The Wicked Witch of the West, Rachel Weisz has been recently cast as her sister and therefore Wicked Witch of the East; ‘Evanora’. Michelle Williams will play Glinda the good witch, who acts as Franco’s love interest and Zach Braff makes an appearance as Oz’s assistant, ‘Frank’. It will be interesting to see how they will successfully transform beauties Mila Kunis and Rachel Weisz into believable evil witches when one remembers the green faced, wart-nosed versions of the 1939 classic.

Early talks were had with Christoph Waltz, Robert Downey Jr and Johnny Depp for parts in this ensemble cast, yet, toyboy Franco pipped them to the post.

Oz is also set to be an aesthetic treat with a magical dream team crew with an endless list of fantasy film accolades at the helm. Production Designer Robert Stromberg (Pan’s Labyrinth, The Golden Compass and Pirates of the Caribbean) and co. Producer K. C Hodenfield (Transformers, The Chronicles of Narnia, Cowboys and Aliens) will contribute. Watch this space fantasy fans!