With Comic-Con 2012 just hours away, prepare yourself for an onslaught of promotion from the various studios hocking their wares at the tradeshow. And so naturally, Entertainment Tonight is getting into the fray as well. The tabloid television entertainment television news show stopped by the set of Sam Raimi's "Oz: The Great and Powerful," and if you can tolerate sitting through the annoying ET host, you'll see some first-look behind-the-scenes footage mostly involving what leads James Franco and Mila Kunis will look like in the film.
A sort-of prequel to "The Wizard of Oz" — though note, Walt Disney Pictures don't own the rights to the film and evidently they've had to dance around some of the connections — the actors do still believe the film is in the spirit of the original, but also has a newer flavor. "I do think it captures the magic of the original," Kunis said. "But it's completely different. In my opinion, a little bit darker, a little more grounded. There is no singing, there is no dancing."
"In the original L. Frank Baum books there are many witches and creatures, many more than were in the original [Wizard of Oz]," Franco said. "This Oz is a little different. You get to see a lot more of who this Oz is… The search for [his heart] is one of the main themes of this movie."
"Oz: The Great and Powerful" also stars Rachel Weisz, Michelle Williams, Zach Braff and Abigail Spencer and hits theaters on March 8, 2013. The first real bits of footage will likely be unveiled this week during Comic-Con.