With Disney's Oz the Great and Powerful opening today and news that the studio has already tapped screenwriter Mitchell Kapner to pen a sequel, it was only a matter of time before attention turned to director Sam Raimi as to whether or not he'd return to helm a follow-up.  With big box office franchises, as Disney is hoping Oz turns into, the studio wants a quick turn-around on the next film and would need to secure a director sooner than later.  Is Raimi up to the challenge or will a journeyman director be swooping in to take the opportunity?  Hit the jump to see what Raimi had to say (it's spoilery on the movie's ending).

Here's Raimi's spoilery response to being asked if he would return to helm a sequel to Oz the Great and Powerful (via Bleeding Cool):

I haven’t planned on directing the sequel. I did leave some loose ends for another director if they want to make the picture. I tried to make it a complete ending, so that the audience would be fulfilled, but I also let Evanora and Theodora get away.

I was attracted to this story but I don’t think the second one would have the thing I would need to get me interested.

We can assume that, since Kapner has only just been commissioned on the sequel, that Raimi doesn't have a complete picture as far as the plot of a follow-up.  Once a basic plot structure is in place (one that the studio is pleased with), I'm sure Raimi will be part of the discussions on helming the sequel.  Then again, he might be busy scripting Evil Dead 4 this summer with a possible return to directing the horror installment.

As for Oz the Great and Powerful, it's available in both 2D and 3D this weekend, although Raimi revealed that the two versions are slightly different.  Check out Matt’s review of Oz the Great and Powerful here, along with interviews from Sam Raimi, James Franco, Mila Kunis, Zach Braff and producer Joe Roth.