Currently, The Wizard of Oz is one of those most sough off production materials in Tinseltown. There are several plans to turn the classic into silver screen again, much of the credits of the success of Disney's Alice in Wonderland. With Walt Disney's desire to continue to golden coins run, it is absolutely non-sense if they did not turn to the classic property for another run for the modern audiences.Walt Disney is now developing The Great and Powerful Oz - a prequel to the classic film The Wizard of Oz in 1939. The planned movie has Robert Downey Jr rumoured to star and also has a crop of three directors possibly up for snatch. They are Sam Mendes (American Beauty), Adam Shankman (Hairspray) and Timur Bekmambetov (Wanted). Alright, I know that Bekmambetov is been everywhere - producing this and that! But the reason he is looking feasible to do the job is that he is free of directorial jobs. Wanted 2 is put on hold by Universal and other possible directing jobs include Jingle Cruise, Red asphalt, Moby Dick and The Witch Hunter as well, although these projects are reportedly linked to and not finalized yet. Sam Mendes is also kind of free and is capable of taking the classic down well - if you take into account that his attachment on Bond 23 has been put on hold as well. Shankman's skills could be feasible too to oversee the musical theme surrounding it. But who ever the director is in the end, it is a lovable classic that just could give a great fortune to Disney.
Disney is aiming to bring the film, written by Mitch Kapner for a 3D production as soon as spring next year. The Disney's version is not the only we have heard in Hollywood. Once, Drew Barrymore is also developing her own version too (sequel), which follows the great, great granddaughter of Dorothy who uses the ruby slippers to stop the Wicked Witch of the West from taking over Oz and Earth.
SOURCE: Screen Rant