James Franco (Your Highness) and team have just begun shooting Sam Raimi’s Oz: The Great & Powerful at the brand new Raleigh Studios in Pontiac, Michigan. As previously reported, the cast includes Mila Kunis (Friends with Benefits), Michelle Williams (Blue Valentine), Rachel Weisz (The Constant Gardener). While this news already has fans of L. Frank Baum’s classic Wizard of Oz clamoring, new details have emerged regarding the supporting cast, as well as plot details about the famed wizard’s story.
According to a recent press release, names included in the project are Zach Braff (The High Cost of Living) as Frank, the wizard’s circus assistant, Abigail Spencer (Hawthorne) as May, Joey King (Ramona & Beezus) who voices China Girl, a CGI character “who also joins the future Wizard on his excursion through Oz.” In addition, Braff will lend his voice to another CGI character, Finley, a winged monkey who tags along for the ride.
Also, we have leaved the official name of Franco’s character, which is Oscar Diggs. He is “a small-time circus magician with dubious ethics, [who] is hurled away from dusty Kansas to the vibrant Land of Oz, he thinks he’s hit the jackpot—fame and fortune are his for the taking—that is until he meets three witches, Theodora (Kunis), Evanora (Weisz) and Glinda (Williams), who are not convinced he is the great wizard everyone’s been expecting. Reluctantly drawn into the epic problems facing the Land of Oz and its inhabitants, Oscar must find out who is good and who is evil before it is too late. Putting his magical arts to use through illusion, ingenuity—and even a bit of wizardry—Oscar transforms himself not only into the great and powerful Wizard of Oz but into a better man as well.”
Raimi has got the best of the best working with him, including a screenplay written by Mitchell Kapner (The Whole Nine Yards) and David Lindsay-Abaire (Rabbit Hole). Joe Roth (Alice in Wonderland) produces and executive producers are Grant Curtis (the Spider-Man trilogy), Philip Steuer (The Chronicles of Narnia series), and Palak Patel. Naturally, there are plenty of decorated texperts (technological-experts!) on hand to create the world of Oz and its characters. This accomplished list includes cinematographer Peter Deming (Mulholland Drive), production designer Robert Stromberg (Alice in Wonderland, Avatar), film editor Bob Murawski (The Hurt Locker), veteran costume designer Gary Jones (The Talented Mr. Ripley), and visual effects Oscar winner Scott Stokdyk (Spider-Man & Spider-Man 2). Last, but certainly, not least, Academy Award–winning special makeup artist Howard Berger (The Chronicles of Narnia series), is responsible for creating “the looks of several of the unique denizens of Oz, including creatures such as the Whimsies, the Tinkers and the Winkies, as well as the ghastly look of the Wicked Witch of the West.”
I know I can’t wait to see this movie and how it all comes together! What about you? Any thoughts on the casting decisions? Do you think Franco can carry this film with Kunis, Weisz, and Williams on board? For more details behind this production, check out our previous article on recent casting news! Check back with Movie Buzzers to see what develops!
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