The pairing of Sam Raimi (Spider-Man) Robert Downey Jr. for Oz, the Great and Powerful sounded fantastic from the get-go. But as late as October, we had Downey listed as “unofficially attached.” It turns out his involvement was all too tenuous, as Downey has dropped out of the project. It’s a regrettable turn of events, particularly after the news that a similarly promising collaboration between Downey and Alfonso Cuaron (Children of Men) for the sci-fi film Gravity was not to be.
But just as George Clooney stepped in to restore the prospects of Gravity, there is a a glimmer of hope for Oz. Thanks to the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise and last year’s Alice in Wonderland, Disney is BFFs with Hollywood’s most idiosyncratic megastar, Johnny Depp. The studio is eager to get Oz in production later this year, and is currently in discussions with Depp to replace Downey. Of course, fitting the film into Depp’s busy schedule will take some fancy calendar work. Hit the jump for a look at the various projects Depp must schedule, plus background on the film.
Depp will shoot Dark Shadows with Tim Burton this spring. Despite how long the film’s been in development, that start date seems pretty set in stone.
Depp is also attached to star as Tonto in The Lone Ranger, another project that has long been on his to-do list. According to Heat Vision, if Depp commits to Oz, that would necessarily delay Lone Ranger. Plus, there’s always the looming possibility of more Pirates sequels, which would be truly daunting if shot back to back as rumored.
But there is some wiggle room. The Lone Ranger and Pirates are both housed at Disney, and the studio is clearly willing to shuffle all of these project in front of cameras at some point. It’s worth noting that Oz, the Great and Powerful is the furthest along in the development process. The Lone Ranger has a director in Gore Verbinski, but still no is signed to play the titular character. (Depp likes Brad Pitt and George Clooney for the masked cowboy.)
Oz, the Great and Powerful is a prequel of sorts to the familiar Wizard of Oz lore. There is no official start date, but reports suggest Disney wants to begin principal photography this summer. According to Heat Vision, the studio has hired a unit production manager and “begun the task of creating the world of Oz.”
Here’s a tentative plot outline:
The Wizard — a snake-oil salesman posing as a magician — enters Oz via a hot-air balloon, which he uses to escape an angry husband who has found out that Oz slept with his wife. There, Oz — a fast-talking huckster who wears a velveteen frock coat (yes, I can see that) — falls in love with Glinda (the Good Witch), and the two combine forces to fight the evil witches Evanora and Theodora. Theodora starts out as a good witch, but after Oz jilts her sexual advances, Evanora — the truly evil witch — convinces Theodora to become an evil witch with her and help her to rule all of Oz.
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Man, Depp just keeps on typecasting himself, sad to say, but I think Tim Burton’s influence ruined what could have been an extraordinary career. Yes, some of his best roles are in Burton films and Jack Sparrow is a likable character but enough with the heavily costumed comedic leads, show some fucking range man.
i agree felonious, every word of it
depp it’s wasting his talent and picking some shit big movies, he’s looking on the wrong direction
just see his conteporary actors, brad pitt, robert downey, george clooney, they all pick good proyects
i remember when depp chosing good movies and making good roles in the 90s and not in trash big movies
Johnny Depp has had a huge huge huge career. He’s proved himself for 20 years, and I’m fine with having some fun and making lame big budget films better. When you’ve already done it all what more can you do. Besides add a hooked nose and he looks way more like the wizard than Downey did, and is personality wise alot like the wizard. Downey was awful casting.
Yes because Public Enemies and The Tourist were so “heavily costumed comedic leads” right?
Do research before you sound ignorant. Just because you didn’t see the less popular movies doesn’t mean they don’t exist.
No research needed, I saw Public Enemies and it was alright, avoided The Tourist as everything i read about it said it wasn’t worth my money, that being said, just because 2 of his more recent films haven’t had him in full on charming buffoon mode doesn’t mean he’s not being type cast. Jack Sparrow, Willy Wonka, The Mad Hatter, Sweeney Todd (albeit a wicked and vengeful buffoon), Victor Van Dort, Tony (all due respect for this role, but still fits the mold) 1st transformation in The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus. Along with his upcoming films, Rango (playing on his Duke from Fear and Loathing), Dark Shadows playing Baranabus Collins…rest assured in a humorous way, Tonto in the Lone Ranger…again tongue in cheek and now possibly this. If you are going to defend his choices, do so from a position based on those choices not on your feeling that he’s dreamy.
Johnny’s so nice he’ll probably wont charge …but i don’t think he has time for that… I mean he couldn’t even spend halloween with his kids
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Most of Depp’s greatest roles (Ed Wood, Edward Scissorhands, Sweeny Todd & even The Mad Hatter) have been with Burton. Felonious’ claim is ridiculous, as is anyone who agrees with him.
I guess we agree to disagree. As for his great roles, The Mad Hater doesn’t belong anywhere near that list, I’ll agree that Ed Wood and Sweeney Todd were amazing performances by him, as was Edward Scissorhands doesn’t mean that he’s kind of passed the saturation point on those sort of roles.
sorry but are you serious? the mad hatter?? you got to be kidding man
you can think that those characters are their best if you just watch tim burton films
fear and loathing in vegas
the libertine
benny & june
blow
dead man
don juan de marco
and ed wood, scissorhands, todd
it’s just not all bout tim burton, the last 2 movies with burton sucked
i remember depp in the 90s saying something like “i can be in big comercial movies but i don’t want to” what happened johnny?
Wait, what? The last -two- movies with Burton sucked? Depp’s version of Sweeney was fantastic. Could they have chosen someone with a better voice for the part? Of course, but Depp was one of the best character actors I could have pictured for the role. Also, I can’t even picture someone with a better voice that would work so well with Burton (No doubt because of all their experience together).
Sorry you hate musicals.