Sam
Raimi has been confirmed to direct
Oz: The Great and Powerful, a prequel to the Wonderful Wizard of Oz novel that was the basis for The Wizard of Oz (amongst plenty of other adaptations.
Oz tells of the journey a common magician from Omaha makes when he is transported to a
rulerless kingdom of Oz and is appointed their ruler through a case of mistaken identity. The
events of the story are to show Oz's magician skills coming into play as he attempts to become the great and powerful Oz that prophecy has foretold will arrive.
Raimi has proven his ability to lead in summer box office fare but where he might be a brilliant choice for this is in that he also loves darker material, something which the Oz universe likes to delve into.
Not yet confirmed but as yet first in line to play Oz is Robert
Downey Jnr who is going from strength to strength right now and to be honest, i think might be superb in the role as a slightly bumbling, good natured charlatan.
This film has real franchise potential and
I'm sure it would do amazingly well at the box office, something that is becoming more and more true with regards to
pre-existing stories. Take Alice in Wonderland, it's already passed the billion dollar mark, people know about these stories and want to see new and
fantastical versions of them, that and they can take their kids. The Oz universe has probably a hundred books written about it and there would be no shortage of source material. Although i suspect that if it does well we should see a Batman Begins style ending where the notion of a Dorothy is revealed.
Now all we need is to see if Oz battles the wicked witch and who will play her.....
Oz: The Great and Powerful will be released in 2013.