Via a press release sent to us we learn of an ambitious project called OZ WARS, a bizarre take on the WIZARD OF OZ mythos. A CG/stop-motion hybrid, it will be helmed by CORPSE BRIDE co-director Mike Johnson and produced by Vanguard Films (SPACE CHIMPS).
“Oz Wars is an animated action-adventure story, but unlike most animated films, it’s not just for kids,” Johnson says. “The Land of Oz will be re-imagined using stop-motion to create a world that’s dark, slick, sexy, and dangerous. It’s long been a goal of mine to create a hard-hitting, grown-up action film using stop-motion animation. Oz Wars is my opportunity to do that.”
The flick transforms the Oz narrative into a contemporary, freaky action-packed PG-13 audience pleaser, with Dorothy caught up in a whirlwind of warrior witches, black magic, martial arts and monsters.
I dunno if this will ultimately be up our alley, but I guess I can’t ignore the words “freaky” or “monsters”. The Wizard of Oz world is strange enough (what’s more chilling than those flying monkeys – or those munchkins, for that matter?), so this take on it might up the “I’m freaking out, get me the hell out of here!” level. And that’s always good when it comes to “kiddie flicks”…
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