Mila Kunis eyes role in Oz: The Great and Powerful

Earlier this month we heard that James Franco had been approached to lead Oz: The Great and Powerful after things didn’t work out with Robert Downey Jr. and Johnny Depp. Franco’s involvement had yet to be confirmed, however the actor has apparently agreed to play the Wizard of Oz following discussion with director Sam Raimi and Black Swan actress Mila Kunis, who will also join the film.

From Vulture:

Vulture hears that Mila Kunis…intends to star opposite James Franco in Raimi’s Oz, The Great and Powerful.

The closely guarded Oz script, reimagined most recently by playwright turned screenwriter David Lindsay-Abaire (Rabbit Hole; Inkheart), tells the story of the origins of the Wizard, and of Oz’s infamous witches like Glinda, who becomes the Good Witch of the North, and Evanorah, who becomes the Wicked Witch of the East (though best remembered as the new, ruby-slippered sub-basement of Dorothy’s farmhouse).

After a recent meeting with Raimi and Wizard James Franco, all agreed that Kunis would be perfect for the part of Theodorah, the younger sister of Evanorah who goes on to become the Wicked Witch of the West and, of course, to cackle iconic lines like, “I’ll get you, my pretty … and your little dog, too!” With her involvement assured, we’re told that Franco finally agreed to do the picture.

Oz, the Great and Powerful follows a circus wrangler (Franco) who is transported by a tornado to the mysterious world of Oz. Once there he gets mistaken for a know-it-all, and eventually becomes the Wizard of Oz. Filming is set to begin in July so more casting news will be appearing over the next few weeks.