Earlier this week, Disney released a teaser one-sheet for the Sam Raimi-directed Oz The Great And Powerful, which re-imagines the Earthly humble beginnings of the iconic title character from L. Frank Baum’s 1900 novel (and the later 1939 Hollywood big screen version), The Wizard Of Oz.
This prequel trip down the yellow brick road re-unites the Spider-Man director with his Harry Osborn, James Franco, as Oscar Diggs (The Wizard), and casts Mila Kunis (Theodora), Michelle Williams, (Glinda), and Rachel Wiesz (Evanora) as the three Witches from the enchanted Land of Oz.
Actress Joey King (Crazy, Stupid, Love) let slip a few details that reveal Sam Raimi plans to pay homage to the visual style seen in the orignial film.
Here is the official synopsis from Disney:
“Disney’s fantastical adventure, Oz the Great and Powerful, directed by Sam Raimi (Spider-Man 1-3, The Evil Dead movies) imagines the origins of L. Frank Baum’s beloved character, the Wizard of Oz. When Oscar Diggs (James Franco), a small-time circus magician with dubious ethics, is hurled away from dusty Kansas to the vibrant Land of Oz, he thinks he’s hit the jackpot—fame and fortune are his for the taking—that is until he meets three witches, Theodora (Mila Kunis), Evanora (Rachel Weisz) and Glinda (Michelle Williams), who are not convinced he is the great wizard everyone’s been expecting. Reluctantly drawn into the epic problems facing the Land of Oz and its inhabitants, Oscar must find out who is good and who is evil before it is too late. Putting his magical arts to use through illusion, ingenuity—and even a bit of wizardry—Oscar transforms himself not only into the great and powerful Wizard of Oz but into a better man as well.”
I had the opportunity to interview James Franco last August for Access Hollywood at the Rise Of The Planet Of The Apes junket, and asked him what we could expect from this new take on the iconic character, as they were already in production on Oz in Detroit.
“I am playing the Wizard of Oz, but if you’ll remember, the Wizard in the original 1939 film is an older man,” he said. “So it’s another great opportunity to kind of do a new rendition on a franchise or a tradition, but it’s in a fresh way.”
Sam Raimi will be at the Disney presentation at Comic-Con on Thursday to talk up the film (and undoubtedly be bombarded with questions regarding his thoughts about The Amazing Spider-Man). Oz The Great And Powerful is set for release in 3-D on March 8, 2013.
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