Few things attract the attention of Hollywood more than the smell of a remake/reboot. The latest in a never-ending stream of remake announcements is the news that “Watchmen” and “The Woodsman” director, Nicole Kassell has been tapped to helm a remake of “The Wizard of Oz.”
Or rather, a new adaptation of L. Frank Baum‘s beloved children’s novel “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz,” rather than a direct remake of the 1939 classic, as Deadline reports. The project is produced by Marty Bowen and Wyck Godfrey for Temple Hill, and Marc Platt. Isaac Klausner will serve as an executive producer. New Line conducted an extensive director search before landing on Nicole Kassell, choosing her for her “striking visual tone,” and “ability to adapt challenging material.”
Though Baum’s work is in the public domain, two of Hollywood’s favorite words, this is the first adaptation in a while to be made under the Warner Bros. umbrella. Meaning that unlike Sam Raimi‘s “Oz The Great And Powerful,” the upcoming film can draw upon elements from the 1939 musical classic “The Wizard of Oz,” including the ruby slippers. Previous drafts of the screenplay were written by Darren Lemke and the duo of Neil Widener and Gavin James.
“I am incredibly honored to join Temple Hill and New Line in bringing this beloved classic to the screen,” Kassell said in a statement. “While the 1939 musical is part of my DNA, I am exhilarated and humbled by the responsibility of re-imagining such a legendary tale. The opportunity to examine the original themes — the quest for courage, love, wisdom and home — feels more timely and urgent than ever. These are profoundly iconic shoes to fill, and I am eager to dance alongside these heroes of my childhood as we pave a newly minted yellow brick road.”
There is still no word of casting or release date. In the meantime, this is not the only Warner Bros. project based on Braum’s work, as studio Animal Logic has announced they’ll team up with Warner Bros. for an animated musical adaptation of “Toto: The Dog-Gone Amazing Story of the Wizard of Oz.“
