After a long development period, cameras finally rolled on Oz, The Great And Terrible this past Monday in Michigan under the watchful eye of director Sam Raimi.
Although Robert Downey Jr was originally set to star in this prequel to L Frank Baum’s classic book series, the finished product will now see James Franco in the role. Also in the cast are Mila Kunis, Rachel Weisz, Michelle Williams and Zach Braff. The press release announcing the commencement of production has a more detailed synopsis –
Oz The Great and Powerful 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.
Joining Raimi behind the camera will be cinematographer Peter Deming who worked with Raimi on Evil Dead II and Drag Me To Hell.
Oz The Great And Powerful is slated for a March 8, 2013 release.
