Putting aside my general indifference to James Franco, I’m very excited to see what Sam Raimi is going to do with his Wizard of Oz prequel, which looks set to be a pretty big deal. For a start, Disney are behind the project with a rumoured 200million budget, which signals they mean business.
It’s not out until March 2013, but with shooting underway already, Disney have released an official synopsis at D23. Franco aside, the cast looks great, with Rachel Weisz, Mila Kunis and Michelle Williams all signed on as witches. From the looks of things, the ‘epic problems’ facing Oz suggest the movie will focus as much on the witches as Oz himself, which is no surprise really. Like Snow White, Oz is looking like another hot-topic for adaptation with the rumour mill at full speed suggesting that musical hit ‘Wicked’ – which is also about the witches – is on it’s way to cinemas soon too.
THR have seen some concept art at D23, describing the scenery as having an art deco influence, and including a mountain shaped like AN ELEPHANT.
Check out the synopsis below.
"Walt Disney Pictures' fantastical adventure Oz The Great and Powerful, directed by Sam Raimi, 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.
