Sam Raimi Hired To Direct 'Oz'

[daguru]

Sam Raimi Hired To Direct 'Oz' (& Downey?)
By Nikki Finke | Tuesday June 15, 2010 @ 4:10am PDT

UPDATE: Let me confirm that Sam Raimi is set to direct Disney's extravagant 'Wizard of Oz' 3D prequel. I understand that talks to hire Raimi for Oz: The Great And Powerful turned into a deal last night finalized by CAA. It's a coup for new studio bosses Rich Ross and Sean Bailey, who are rolling the dice big-time by hoping that this pic will be a global hit like the billion-dollar-grossing Alice In Wonderland. "Robert Downey Jr. isn't set yet. They are going to develop for him, if things go right. The script will be rewritten," one of my sources says. "The movie will happen, though." Downey would play the Wizard Of Oz before he became the Wizard Of Oz circa the 1939 iconic film: he's in fact a circus wrangler transported by tornado to the mysterious world of Oz where he gets mistaken for a know-it-all. This will be Raimi's first firm project since he exited Spider-Man 4, which prompted Sony Pictures to reboot the entire franchise earlier this year. Now the only question is whether Sam Raimi can do what Tim Burton just did.

Source: Deadline.com; http://www.deadline.com/2010/06/sam-raimi-hired-to-direct-downey-in-oz/

This has actually been a rumored project for a while, this is the first real confirmation of anything, let alone the director. Wonder if Disney could fit Johnny Depp in there anywhere... two hot commodities in Depp and Downey.
_________________
Up or Down North, South, East, or West An Adventurer's Life is Best!

[sarah91182]

[daguru]

[Figmentathm]

I think Disney could make a movie without Johnny Depp. While his role in Pirates is great, I wasn't thrilled with Alice. In fact I wasn't thrilled with the entire movie.
_________________
[

[sarah91182]

[bullfrog117]

Frankly I'd be much more interested in a film version of the musical Wicked which technically involves the Wizard coming to Oz, but obviously doesn't focus on him. Oh well. Sam Raimi is incredibly talented!

[RavenStGermaine]

Yep, I'm going to jump on the Bruce Campbell bandwagon. We started watching Burn Notice on USA just because he's in it. Thankfully, it turned out to be a good show.
_________________
Beth's Blog

[WDWFan]

I first saw Bruce Campbell in Brisco County Jr. A great series I recommend to anyone...