Everyone’s familiar with the movie The Wizard of Oz, but have you ever wondered just how this ordinary man became known as the greatest wizard in the land of Oz? Well, the unlikely pairing of Disney and Sam Raimi are going to show you the story with the upcoming Oz: The Great and Powerful, due to hit theaters March 8, 2013.
In order to kick things off properly the prequel movie held a panel at San Diego Comic-Con where about 6,000 fans got a first look at the film. Starring James Franco in the title role, the movie tells how this carnival magician got swept away by a tornado to the land of Oz. Instead of an entire building being carried off, this time he’s in a hot air balloon.
Apparently tornadoes are Oz’s version of the Stargate.
The visuals in this movie look nothing short of stunning and the trailer would seem to tell that the movie will continue with the tradition of beginning in black and white, then transforming into brilliant color upon arrival in Oz. It’ll be interesting to see how Disney and Raimi tackle the story of how a simple carnival magician transforms himself into one of the most powerful wizards in a magical land.
Disney’s fantastical adventure, Oz The Great and Powerful, directed by Sam Raimi, imagines the origins of L. Frank Baum’s beloved character, the Wizard of Oz. When Oscar Diggs (James Franco), a small-time circus magician with dubious ethics, 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 (Mila Kunis), Evanora (Rachel Weisz) and Glinda (Michelle 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.
Oz: The Great and Powerful Official Website
Oz: The Great and Powerful Facebook Page
Studio Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
Starring James Franco, Mila Kunis, Rachel Weisz, Michelle Williams, Zach Braff
Directed By Sam Raimi
Written By David Lindsay-Abaire
Produced By Joe Roth, Grant Curtis, Philip Steuer, Palak Patel
Senior Editor for Three If By Space. Tom first became interested in science fiction & science as a very young child thanks to his parents. His earliest memories of enjoying scifi were sitting with his dad watching first-run episodes of the original Star Trek. Although a fan of nearly all forms of scripted television, Tom’s preferences skew heavily toward hard science fiction.
