web
counter
 

Sam Raimi Oz Prequel

By Steven Lloyd Wilson | Posted Under Trade News | Comments (10)



wizard-of-oz2.jpg

TK noticed last summer that there were not one, but two different Wizard of Oz projects in production. Now there’s a third, and it’s got Sam Raimi helming it. That noise you hear is the upside of Sony’s curbstomping of Raimi’s future with the Spiderman franchise.

The movie is being pitched both as a prequel and a dark reimagining, so they’re one cliche away from a lame PR trifecta already. Called Oz, The Great and Powerful, it is loosely based on Baum’s books, and focuses on the time before the Wizard went to Oz, when he was “a charlatan who’s part of a traveling circus but goes on a similar odyssey as Dorothy when he mysteriously lands in Oz.” That’s most perturbing, since it actually represents what appears to be a genuinely original take on an old story.

Oh, and Robert Downey Jr. is attached to play the Wizard.

I only hope that they retain the original story’s nuanced arguments of monetary policy.

(source: SlashFilm, header pic courtesy of See Mike Draw)









Each Time You Like, Share, Tweet or Stumble a Pajiba Post, An Angel Does the Paul Rudd Dance



Well Played, Vince Gilligan. Well Played | Last Night on the Season 3 Finale of "Breaking Bad" | 12 Reasons 80's Remakes Are the Safest Bets in Hollywood









Comments

"OK, so where's the courage kept?"

Inside her dog.

Posted by: Kballs at June 14, 2010 10:32 AM

I've heard that the monetary stuff is a myth. Yes, you can find some pretty deep analysis online of how Oz = critique of monetary analysis, but the timelines (in terms of when Baum wrote the books) don't work out. Anyone know the truth?

Posted by: Paul D at June 14, 2010 10:33 AM

The movie is being pitched both as a prequel and a dark reimagining, so they’re one cliche away from a lame PR trifecta already.

ILU, SLW.

Posted by: twig at June 14, 2010 11:01 AM

ILU, SLW.

Posted by: twig at June 14, 2010 11:01 AM

That's one abbrev away from an acronym trifecta already.

Posted by: esme at June 14, 2010 12:19 PM

I'll re-enter my comment from when I posted this on facebook a few days ago.

Bruce Campbell...in every role.

Posted by: DeistBrawler at June 14, 2010 2:13 PM

i want a t-shirt with that cartoon

Posted by: idleprimate at June 14, 2010 6:44 PM

Oh goodie! Another chance for a bunch of people who've never read the original and have about a teaspoon of imagination get another crack at fucking up a classic!

(Say what you will about the book, not the musical, Wicked, but at least McGuire read the fucking book first, and it's first sequel, instead of just going, "What if Judy Garland was dressed really slutty?!!")

Posted by: Rowen at June 14, 2010 8:06 PM

Why aren't you people excited about this? This could be awesome!

Also: Yes to Bruce Campbell, he's make a terrific Wizard!

Posted by: AmbroseKalifornia at June 16, 2010 12:32 PM

Searched Google and ended up here - its good so I posted the site on my Facebook account !

Posted by: Emma at December 11, 2010 9:48 PM

Agreed, very well written and can't wait for the second half.

Posted by: Shelia at December 11, 2010 11:59 PM