Oz The Great and Powerful

D23 Live Action Recap: THE MUPPETS, JOHN CARTER, OZ: THE GREAT AND POWERFUL and THE AVENGERS

by Tommy Cook    Posted: August 20th, 2011 at 10:32 pm

Disney’s D23 Expo (the D standing in for Disney; 23 being a reference to the founding year of the studio – 1923) is kind of sorta like Comic Con, except more family friendly, cleaner, smaller, not as crowded, better smelling. And blue. I swear –it seemed like everything at the Expo was blue.  The seats in the auditorium, the rug on the show room floors, the gelled up lights, the screen – all blue. Hell – even the press packet folder was stripped in the color. At times, I felt like I was watching a latter day Derek Jarman flick.

The big highly anticipated panel of D23 – Walt Disney’s presentation (i.e. shilling) of their upcoming slate of films did not disappoint. So jam-packed was the three hour presentation, I’m forced to split my coverage into two parts. The first herein will focus on Disney’s upcoming live action films, whereas the second will cover their forthcoming animated films. Exclusive footage and clips were shown from the likes of The Muppets, John Carter (formerly of Mars), the just-started-shooting Oz: The Great and Powerful and, of course, The Avengers. For descriptions and impressions of the footage shown, hit the jump.  And for coverage on the live action portion of the panel, featuring Brave, Monsters University, Frankenweenie, and Wreck-It Ralph, click here.

Presentations for D23 2011 Announced; Includes THE AVENGERS, THE MUPPETS, JOHN CARTER, BRAVE, FRANKENWEENIE, and More

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: August 9th, 2011 at 10:33 am

Disney is probably done with Comic-Con for good.  The studio now has its own convention, the D23 Expo, and they’re using it to promote their upcoming films.  This year, D23 will have presentations for The Avengers, The Muppets, John Carter, The Odd Life of Timothy Green, Brave, Wreck-It Ralph, Frankenweenie, Oz the Great and Powerful, and more.  The presentations will include appearances from Jason Segel, Taylor Kitsch, Kelly Macdonald, Jennifer Garner, Jack McBrayer, unnamed cast members from The Avengers, “and other surprise guests.”

Hit the jump for the full press release, which also announces presentations from the Pixar Creative team, a behind-the-scenes look at Monsters University, an advanced screening of The Lion King 3D and more.  The D23 Expo runs from August 19 – 21st at the Anaheim Convention Center.  Collider will be on hand to cover the event.

First Synopsis for Sam Raimi’s OZ THE GREAT AND POWERFUL Starring James Franco

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: July 26th, 2011 at 11:34 am

Principal photography has begun on Sam Raimi’s next film, Oz The Great and Powerful and now we have the first official synopsis for the film.  We now know that the eponymous’ wizard’s real name is Oscar Diggs.  Diggs is “a small-time circus magician with dubious ethics” who finds himself transported to Oz and drawn into a battle between the three witches Theodora (Mila Kunis), Evanora (Rachel Weisz) and Glinda (Michelle Williams).  The film also stars Zach Braff as Diggs’ circus assistant, and Braff will also lend his vocal talents to one of the CGI creatures in the story — Finley, the winged monkey who accompanies the magician on his journey to Oz.  I’ve always said that the only thing better than a monkey sidekick is a flying monkey sidekick.

Hit the jump for the full synopsis and press release.  Oz The Great and Powerful is set to open on March 8, 2013.

Abigail Spencer Joins Sam Raimi’s OZ, THE GREAT AND POWERFUL

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: July 6th, 2011 at 1:34 pm

Sam Raimi continues to fill out the cast of his Wizard of Oz prequel Oz, The Great and Powerful, as Mad Men actress Abigail Spencer is the latest to sign on. The impressive cast now includes James Franco as the charismatic magician, Mila Kunis, Rachel Weisz and Michelle Williams as three witches, and Zach Braff as Oz’s faithful assistant. The story tells the origins of the eponymous Wizard, as Franco’s character is whisked away in a hot air balloon to the land of Oz, where he must team up with Glinda the Good Witch (Williams) in order to battle her evil counterparts (Kunis and Weisz) who are bent on taking over the land.

Heat Vision reports that Spencer will play a willing participant in Franco’s magic show while he’s performing in Kansas. On Mad Men, Spencer played the foxy Miss Farrell, schoolteacher to Don Draper’s kids and the focal point of Mr. Draper’s super serious bedroom eyes in season three. Oz, The Great and Powerful begins filming in Michigan later this month. We recently reported that Raimi will be reteaming with composer Danny Eflman for the fantasy tale. The film hits theaters March 8^th, 2013.

 

Danny Elfman to Score Sam Raimi’s OZ THE GREAT AND POWERFUL; In Talks for THE HUNGER GAMES [UPDATED]

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: June 20th, 2011 at 9:15 am

It looks like composer Danny Elfman may finally be reteaming with director Sam Raimi. After being collaborators for a number of years, the two had a bit of a falling out over the score for Spider-Man 2. Now, it appears that things have been smoothed over as Elfman recently revealed (Film Music Reporter via The Playlist) that he’s going to be scoring Raimi’s Wizard of Oz prequel Oz The Great and Powerful. The film stars James Franco, Rachel Weisz, Michelle Williams, Mila Kunis and Zach Braff. Oz The Great and Powerful hits theaters March 8^th, 2013.

In addition to Oz, Eflman also said that he’s in talks to score Gary Ross’ highly anticipated adaptation of The Hunger Games. While no deal is closed just yet, Elfman is eying the assignment. Based on the bestselling book series, the film stars Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson and Liam Hemsworth. The Hunger Games will be released on March 23^rd, 2012.

[Update: Movies.com confirms that Elfman is indeed scoring The Hunger Games alongside singer/songwriter/producer T. Bone Burnett, who won an Oscar for his work on Crazy Heart]

Zach Braff in Talks for OZ: THE GREAT AND POWERFUL

by Brendan Bettinger    Posted: May 26th, 2011 at 7:34 pm

Zach Braff is in final talks to join Oz: The Great and Powerful, Disney’s re-imagining of/prequel to The Wizard of Oz.  James Franco stars as  “a charismatic circus magician who is treated as a powerful wizard after his balloon blows off course into Oz and the townsfolk want him to eradicate a Wicked Witch and bring peace.”  According to Deadline, Braff will play Frank, the wizard’s loyal but under-appreciated assistant.  Mila Kunis, Michelle Williams, and Rachel Weisz play three witches.  The 3D production begins begin this July in Michigan under the direction of Sam Raimi.  Oz: The Great and Powerful is scheduled for release on March 8, 2013.

The Scrubs fans out there may remember Braff directed “My Way Home,” the series’ 100th episode and homage to The Wizard of Oz.  Watch a clip from the episode after the break.

Casting Call: Jamie Chung, Julie Bowen, Connie Britton and More in Talks for KNIFE FIGHT; Joey King Joins OZ, THE GREAT AND POWERFUL; Katrina Bowden in AMERICAN REUNION

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: May 25th, 2011 at 6:06 pm

We’ve got a few casting stories for you tonight. First up, Jamie Chung has joined Rob Lowe in the dark political flick Knife Fight, with Julie Bowen, Connie Britton, Jennifer Morrison, Rebecca Mader and Titus Welliver all in talks to join the cast. And yes, that’s three actors from Lost in one movie (Bowen, Mader and Welliver). Lowe plays a political crisis specialist who plays hard and tough in dealing with various October campaign surprises.

Variety reports that Chung will play his assistant, Bowen plays an ambitious TV reporter sleeping with Lowe’s character for scoops, Britton plays an earthy liberal eyeing a run for public office, Welliver plays a private investigator working for Lowe, Mader plays a masseuse/prostitute with a penchant for blackmail and Morrison plays one of her classmates. Bill Guttentag is directing, with production set to start next month with an eye towards an October 2012 release date, just in time for election season. Hit the jump for news on the casting of Joey King as China Girl in Sam Raimi’s Oz, The Great and Powerful and Katrina Bowden in American Reunion.

Sam Raimi’s OZ, THE GREAT AND POWERFUL Set for March 8, 2013

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: May 25th, 2011 at 9:37 am

Filming on Sam Raimi’s Oz, The Great and Powerful is scheduled to begin shooting this July but audiences won’t be seeing any flying monkeys for a while.  Deadline reports that Disney has set the film’s release date for March 8, 2013.  While it seems a little odd that the movie wouldn’t be a summer tentpole, it could provide Disney a boost in the spring.

The film stars James Franco as a charlatan circus magician in our world, but when he’s transported to Oz, he becomes recognized as a Wizard and finds himself embroiled in a battle between the land’s three witches: Theodora (Mila Kunis), Glinda (Michelle Williams), and Evanora (Rachel Weisz).  The only other film currently set for March 8, 2013 is Neill Blomkamp’s follow-up to District 9, the sci-fi flick Elysium starring Matt Damon, Jodie Foster, Sharlto Copley, Wagner Moura, and possibly William Fichtner.

Michelle Williams to Play Glinda in Sam Raimi’s OZ, THE GREAT AND POWERFUL

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: May 17th, 2011 at 3:23 pm

The triumvirate of witches in Sam Raimi’s Oz, The Great and Powerful is complete.  The film stars James Franco as the future-wizard of Oz, Mila Kunis as Theodora (Wicked Witch of the West), Rachel Weisz as Evanora (Wicked Witch of the East), and now Variety reports that Michelle Williams has been cast as Glinda, the Good Witch.  So it looks like Disney won their battle with Raimi who wanted Hilary Swank for the role, but Disney wanted Williams.

In this re-imagining/prequel to The Wizard of Oz, Franco is a snake-oil salesman who is transported to Oz and teams up with Glinda to fight her evil sisters in a power struggle for control of the magical land.  While Raimi obviously knows the script better than I do, I think Williams is talented actress who adds value to any film.  She tends to gravitate to serious indie fare so this is a nice change of pace for what is sure to be one of Disney’s 2012 tentpoles.  Williams will next be seen as Marilyn Monroe in My Week with Marilyn and opposite Seth Rogen in Sarah Polley’s bittersweet comedy Take This Waltz.

Rachel Weisz in Talks for THE BOURNE LEGACY

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: May 10th, 2011 at 4:47 pm

Hot off the heels of the news that Rachel Weisz is in talks to join Sam Raimi’s Oz, The Great and Powerful comes word that the actress is also in talks to star in Tony Gilroy’s The Bourne Legacy. Legacy is a reboot of sorts for the Bourne franchise, with Jeremy Renner recently landing the lead role. In Legacy, Weisz would play “an operative from a covert government program that is even more dangerous than the Treadstone brainwashing program that hatched Bourne.”

However, Deadline reports that scheduling conflicts may prevent the actress from joining both films. Apparently Weisz is in “deeper” talks for Bourne than she is with Oz (if there exists an infographic for the levels of “talks” actors are in, I’d very much like to see it). In Oz, Weisz would play the evil witch Theodora, who teams up with Kunis’ character to take over Oz. Raimi is set to go into production on Oz, The Great and Powerful this summer, while The Bourne Legacy is poised to start filming in September. There is a possibility that she could do both films, but nothing’s certain at the moment.

Rachel Weisz to Play Evil Witch in OZ, THE GREAT AND POWERFUL

by Eytan Hirsch    Posted: May 3rd, 2011 at 6:08 pm

The lovely and talented Oscar-winner Rachel Weisz is in talks to play the villainess in Oz, The Great and Powerful, Disney’s prequel to 1939’s classic The Wizard of Oz.  THR declares that Weisz would play Evanora, a wicked and powerful witch who is set on obtaining control over the land of Oz.  Directed by Sam Raimi (Spider-Man), the film will star James Franco as a traveling snake oil salesman and illusionist with a grandiose attitude.  After his hot air balloon is swept up by a tornado, he is taken to an enchanted land where he comes across real witches and eventually becomes the legendary Wizard.

We previously reported that Mila Kunis would be taking on the role of Evanora’s sister, Theodora, a good witch whom Evanora coaxes into turning evil after she is rejected by Franco’s character.  The two then join forces to rule all of Oz, and Theodora ultimately becomes the Wicked Witch of the West.  Yet to be cast is the third sister, Glinda (aka the Good Witch of the North).  After Kunis was cast, Olivia Wilde, Amy Adams, Kate Beckinsale, Keira Knightley and Rebecca Hall were all reportedly on the shortlist for the remaining two sisters.  Now that Weisz is set to play Evanora, there’s a good chance that one of these five ladies will play Glinda.

Sam Raimi Fighting with Disney to Cast Hilary Swank in OZ THE GREAT AND POWERFUL

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: April 22nd, 2011 at 3:27 pm

While he’s working on filling out the rest of his cast for Oz, the Great and Powerful, director Sam Raimi is having a little trouble getting Disney on the same page. James Franco is currently set to star as the Wizard in this prequel to 1939′s The Wizard of Oz, with Mila Kunis attached to play Theodora (the Wicked Witch of the West). Raimi wants Hilary Swank to join the cast as one of the elder witches in the film, but apparently Disney is none too keen on that casting choice. Vulture reports that the Mouse House is pushing Raimi to cast Michelle Williams in the role instead, but Raimi doesn’t seem eager to budge.

The report points out that the director ran into a similar problem on the first Spider-Man flick, when Sony wanted him to cast American Beauty star Wes Bentley as Peter Parker. Obviously Raimi won out on that film, but can he convince Disney otherwise this time? Hit the jump for more.

Blake Lively, John Travolta, and Uma Thurman Join Taylor Kitsch and Aaron Johnson SAVAGES

by Brendan Bettinger    Posted: April 21st, 2011 at 7:29 pm

We heard last week Blake Lively was the frontrunner to play Ophelia in Oliver Stone’s adaptation of Savages, though for scheduling she had to choose between Savages and Oz: The Great and Powerful.  It seems Disney must look elsewhere for a Glinda the Good Witch, because Lively has signed on to Savages.  Additionally, John Travolta and Uma Thurman have joined a cast that is blossoming terrifically.  Taylor Kitsch, Aaron Johnson, Salma Hayek, and Benicio Del Toro have long eyed roles in the film; Deadline writes confidently tonight that all four are on board.

Shane Salerno adapted the screenplay with Savages author Don Winslow.  The story centers a pair of marijuana growers (Kitsch and Johnson) who get into trouble with a Mexican drug cartel.  Read the full synopsis after the jump.

Blake Lively Chooses Between SAVAGES and OZ: THE GREAT AND POWERFUL

by Brendan Bettinger    Posted: April 11th, 2011 at 8:07 pm

In casting Savages, director Oliver Stone lost potential female lead Jennifer Lawrence to The Hunger Games.  Since then, Stone and Universal Pictures have cast out a wide net for young actresses to fill the role including Olivia Wilde, Teresa Palmer, and Blake Lively.  Lively has emerged as the frontrunner to play Ophelia, the kidnapping victim that catalyzes the drug running drama.  The pursuit of Ms. Lively, however may end in the same heartbreak.  Lively is also considering the role of Glinda the Good Witch of the East in Disney’s Oz: the Great and Powerful.  Overlapping schedules this summer will likely preclude the actress from signing on to both films.  Hit the jump for more information on both Savages and Oz.

Danny McBride and James Franco Interview YOUR HIGHNESS

by Christina Radish    Posted: April 7th, 2011 at 8:18 pm

In the medieval raunchy comedy Your Highness, actors Danny McBride and James Franco play brothers in the Kingdom of Mourne. Thadeous (McBride) has spent his life in the shadow of his older brother Fabious (Franco), just trying to stay completely out of harm’s way while the hero heir to the thrown goes off on quests to conquer evil. But, when Fabious’ fiancée Belladonna (Zooey Deschanel) is kidnapped by the power-hungry wizard Leezar (Justin Theroux), Thadeous must step up and help his brother and show, for the first time, that he is worthy of his family name. On their quest, they are joined by the mysterious warrior princess Isabel (Natalie Portman), who also has the goal of revenge on Leezar, and they team up to stop the ancient prophecy that will allow Leezar to impregnate Belladonna with a dragon.

At the film’s press day, co-stars Danny McBride (who also wrote the film) and James Franco talked about the challenge of selling this idea to a major studio, their surprise that they were ever allowed to make the film, improvising on set to keep everyone on their toes, and how game Academy Award winner Natalie Portman was, when it came to the raunchy humor. James also talked about why he wanted to sign on for Oz: The Great and Powerful, with director Sam Raimi. Check out what they had to say after the jump:

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