Sam Raimi’s Oz The Great and Powerful will be released by Disney on March 8, 2013, and today the studio announced that shooting is now under-way, and they released the official synopsis for the film.

Story and cast details from the press release can be found below:

Walt Disney Pictures’ fantastical adventure “Oz The Great and Powerful,” directed by Sam Raimi, went in front of the cameras at the brand-new Raleigh Studios in Pontiac, Michigan, on Monday, July 25, 2011, boasting a stellar cast that includes Academy Award® nominee James Franco (“127 Hours”) as the young wizard, Golden Globe® nominee Mila Kunis (“Black Swan”) as the witch Theodora, Academy Award® winner Rachel Weisz (“The Constant Gardener”) as Kunis’ sister Evanora and two-time Oscar®-nominated actress Michelle Williams (“Brokeback Mountain,” “Blue Valentine”) as Glinda, the Good Witch.

The cast also includes Emmy® and Golden Globe® nominee Zach Braff (“Scrubs,” “Garden State”), who will play Franco’s circus assistant as well as lend his vocal talents to one of the CGI creatures in the story — Finley, the winged monkey who accompanies the magician on his journey to Oz; and 12-year-old actress Joey King (“Ramona and Beezus”), who will voice another CGI character in the story, China Girl, who also joins the future Wizard on his excursion through Oz.

“Oz The Great and Powerful” 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.

Raimi’s had a hiccup with Spider-Man 3, but Drag Me to Hell was great and the impressive cast he’s managed to pull together for this suggests our return to Oz (while jumping on the Alice in Wonderland bandwagon) will be worth watching. He’s got just under two years to make it, so there’s plenty of time to get it right.

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Zach Braff (Garden State, TV’s Scrubs) is reportedly in talks to join the cast of Oz: the Great and Powerful, directed by Sam Raimi.

The actor posted a link from his Twitter feed to an article on Deadline:

Braff will play the role of Frank, the loyal but under-appreciated assistant to Oz (James Franco), a charismatic circus magician who is treated as a powerful wizard after his balloon blows off course into Oz and the townsfolk want him to eradicate a Wicked Witch and bring peace. Mila Kunis will play the witch Theodora, Michelle Williams will play Glinda and Rachel Weisz will play Evanora. The pic starts shooting in July in Michigan, with Joe Roth, Josh Donen and Grant Curtis producing and Palek Patel exec producing. Mitchell Kapner and David Lindsay-Abaire wrote the script, with Disney releasing the 3D film March 8, 2013.

Braff was most recently seen in High Cost of Living, playing a drug dealer – a dramatic step from his slapstick comedy days in Scrubs. It’ll be interesting to see what he brings to Oz.

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According to Deadline Disney has set the Oz: The Great And Powerful release date for March 8, 2013, which gives it the same slot Alice in Wonderland had last year.

Oz: the Great and Powerful follows a circus wrangler (James 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.

Spider-Man director Sam Raimi will begin shooting in July, and will direct Mila Kunis (Black Swan) who has already joined the film as the youngest sister Theodorah, who goes on to become the Wicked Witch of the West. Rachel Weisz is currently in talks to play the villainess Evanora, a powerful and evil witch who intends to rule the land and eventually becomes the Wicked Witch of the East, and Michelle Williams is in talks to join the film as Glinda, who eventually becomes the Good Witch of the North.

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Just a few weeks ago we heard that Disney and director Sam Raimi were at odds whether to cast Michelle Williams or Hilary Swank as one of the witches in Oz, The Great and Wonderful. Disney apparently wanted Williams who is coming off a Best Actress Oscar nomination earlier this year for Blue Valentine, while Raimi was said to be after Swank.

Well it looks like Disney got what they wanted as according to Variety Michelle Williams is now in talks to join the film as Glinda, who eventually becomes the Good Witch of the North.

Mila Kunis (Black Swan) has already joined the film as the youngest sister Theodorah, who goes on to become the Wicked Witch of the West. Rachel Weisz is currently in talks to play the villainess Evanora, a powerful and evil witch who intends to rule the land and eventually becomes the Wicked Witch of the East, however the actresses has also been offered The Bourne Legacy with Jeremy Renner, so whether Weisz heads to Oz or not will depend on scheduling.

Oz, the Great and Powerful follows a circus wrangler (James 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. No release date has been set, but once the main cast is sorted Disney aims to begin filming later this year.

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According to THR Oscar winning actress Rachel Weisz is in talks to join Sam Raimi’s Oz: The Great And Powerful. If she joins the film Weisz will play the villainess Evanora, a powerful and evil witch who intends to rule the land and eventually becomes the Wicked Witch of the East (the one who got crushed by Dorothy’s farmhouse).

Mila Kunis (Black Swan) has already joined the film and will play Theodorah, the youngest of the witch sisters who goes on to become the Wicked Witch of the West. The remaining witch to be cast is Glinda, who becomes the Good Witch of the North. We heard both Hilary Swank and Michelle Williams were circling a role last month, so it could very well be Glinda.

Oz: the Great and Powerful follows a circus wrangler (James 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.

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Oz, The Great and Powerful director Sam Raimi already has James Franco as his Wizard, and in February Mila Kunis (Black Swan) was cast as Theodorah, a young witch who goes on to become the Wicked Witch of the West.

Now Raimi has two more witches to find. Glinda, who becomes the Good Witch of the North, and Evanorah, who becomes the Wicked Witch of the East (the one who got crushed by Dorothy’s farmhouse upon her arrival). However it may be getting difficult for the director, as he and Disney are apparently at odds over who should be cast.

According to Vulture:

Raimi has been adamant about casting two-time Oscar winner Hilary Swank as one of the elder witches in the film. However, Vulture is also informed that Disney is strongly opposed to such an idea. The studio has been pushing Raimi to offer the part to Michelle Williams, herself a two-time Oscar nominee.

On the face of it both are talented actresses who could each bring something to the role (whatever it involves), but Disney’s apparent strong opposition for Swank could, in part, be due to her latest movie, The Resident, going straight to DVD and the actress hasn’t really had a hit since 2007 rom-com P.S. I Love You with Gerard Butler.

Studios have short memories, so the fact Swank has two Oscar’s sitting in her house means little when Michelle Williams currently has the buzz from her Blue Valentine nomination a few months ago. Williams was also in Martin Scorsese’s Shutter Island last year with Leonardo DiCaprio, so she has the momentum studios are after.

Vulture reminds us that Raimi had a similar battle when casting Spider-Man a decade ago. Rami wanted Tobey Maguire, while Sony wanted American Beauty actor Wes Bentley. We know who won that battle, so we’ll have to see how the director fares with this one.

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.

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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.

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According to Heat Vision Oscar nominee and Oscar host James Franco is in early talks to reunite with his Spider-Man director Sam Raimi for Oz, the Great and Powerful.

Raimi signed up to direct last year with Robert Downey Jr. circling, but he’s busy in Marvel land so had to bail. Naturally Disney turned to Johnny Depp, but he’s already been there, done that with Alice in Wonderland. So now Franco is the their next choice, and it’s an interesting one.

Oz, the Great and Powerful follows a circus wrangler 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.

Heat Vision says Franco was only offered the role recently and hasn’t had chance to meet with Raimi yet, but knowing Franco’s career choices he’ll jump at the chance (if it doesn’t conflict with his TV soap appearances).

Oz, the Great and Powerful doesn’t have a start date or release date, but the movie is apparently a high priority for the studio and they hope to start production in the second half of 2011.

Can you imagine Franco playing the Wizard of Oz? Or should they just give Sam Rockwell a call?

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You may remember that Spider-Man director Sam Raimi signed up last year to direct Oz, the Great and Powerful for Disney with Robert Downey Jr. expected to play a circus wrangler 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.

We haven’t heard any news about it since, but now it appears Robert Downey Jr. is out and Captain Jack Sparrow may be in.

From Heat Vision:

Robert Downey Jr. has fallen out of Oz, the Great and Powerful, Disney’s prequel-ish take on The Wizard of Oz tale, and the studio is discussions with Johnny Depp to step into the great wizard’s robe.

Sam Raimi is due to direct the tale of Oz as a young illusionist with a grandiose attitude who is forced to flee a traveling circus. His hot air balloon is swept up by a tornado to the land of Oz, which is run by two magical wicked witches.

Downey never had a formal deal to star but the Iron Man and Sherlock Holmes star is now not attached to the project. The question with Depp, who has a close relationship with the studio after starring in its Pirates of the Carribbean franchise and last year’s Alice in Wonderland, will be whether the timing works out.

Indeed, Depp will be re-teaming with Tim Burton in April for Dark Shadows, a gothic-horror tale centering on the life of vampire Barnabas Collins and his run-ins with various monsters, witches, werewolves and ghosts. Then there’s The Lone Ranger with director Gore Verbinski and Disney is already working on the script for Pirates of the Caribbean 5. If Depp does decide to take a trip to Oz it will likely cause The Lone Ranger to be pushed back further.

Meanwhile Downey Jr. is getting ready to shoot The Avengers and recently pulled out of Gravity opposite Sandra Bullock. Iron Man 3 probably won’t begin filming until 2012, so it looks like the actor is freeing up his schedule a bit.

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Last month Spider-Man director Sam Raimi signed up to direct Oz, the Great and Powerful which follows a circus wrangler 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.

Now it seems the project has competition, as according to Deadline Warner Bros. is in early talks with Robert Zemeckis (Beowulf) to direct a live-action remake of the The Wizard of Oz. The word ‘remake’ is used quite literally in this instance, as they are apparently planning to use the original script from the 1939 classic.

Is this laziness? Or is it just a tactic so that it can get into production before Sam Raimi’s version? Warner Bros. owns the original script so they can do what they like with it, and they will no doubt change bits of it here and there before shooting, but quite frankly we don’t really need a remake. There is nothing wrong with the original.

The project is in the early stages so things may change if Robert Zemeckis comes on-board, but Warner Bros. may take a few hits for touching a beloved classic such as The Wizard of Oz. At least Disney and Sam Raimi are opting for a different take on the material.

What do you think? Would you be happy with a modern remake or should 60 year old classics be left alone?

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