Update: The LA Times is reporting that Adam Shankman (“Hairspray,” “Bedtime Stories”) is also in the running to direct the project, that has been put on the “fast track.” Moreover, the film is a darker take on the storied fable and portrays “the wizard [as] a charlatan who’s part of a traveling circus but goes on a similar odyssey as Dorothy when he mysteriously lands in Oz.”
It seems another “Wizard Of Oz” project, besides the two other ones that we reported about back in March, has found some life.
Sam Mendes, now free from any obligations to the indefinitely delayed “James Bond 23,” has become the frontrunner to direct, “Oz The Great And Powerful.” The details are scarce, but the film is a prequel to “Wizard To Oz” and none other than Robert Downey Jr. is circling the role of the Wizard. We had been hearing RDJ’s name being batted around for this project last week via Pajiba, but they weren’t able to pull the trigger on the story. From what we know an offer has gone out to RDJ. The project is based on a script by Mitchell Kapner.
If Downey Jr. does come aboard, it will be interesting to see when this will shoot. Previously, Downey Jr.’s upcoming scheduled tentatively had him participating in Alfonso Cuarón’s “Gravity” this summer, Guy Ritchie’s “Sherlock Holmes 2” this fall and most likely Joss Whedon’s “The Avengers” early next year. Our guess? Sadly, Cuarón’s “Gravity” seems like the project most likely to be stalled. Ever since intel arrived of Downey Jr. circling the film last March, news on the film has been quiet. They had been having trouble finding a female lead after Angelina Jolie dropped out and our guess is that they haven’t been able to find an actress with the kind of clout that would allow the brainy, expensive sci-fi flick to go ahead. Again, just speculation, but it seems about right.
As for Mendes, it looks like his involvement with “James Bond 23” is now null and void. With that project on hiatus until MGM sorts out their shit, he seems to have moved on. That said, if “Oz The Great And Powerful” shoots this summer and somehow, the MGM debacle gets sorted out in the coming months, Mendes could conceivably return to Bond. Again, these are just some educated guesses but they require quite a few things to get sorted out in the interim.
While we’re not particularly excited about this project (we’d rather see “Gravity,” thanks) the prospect of Robert Downey Jr. doing his schtick to schoolchildren is intriguing. So, casting suggestions for The Cowardly Lion, Scarecrow and The Tin Man anyone?