Walt Disney Pictures announced today that production has started on Sam Raimi’s OZ: THE GREAT AND POWERFUL, starring James Franco, Mila Kunis, Rachel Weisz, Zach Braff and Michelle Williams. The film is shooting at Raleigh Studios, Michigan.
Along with the production commencement announcement, the studio unveiled the film’s official synopsis: “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 has assembled his own band of technical wizards and movie magicians on the project, which includes cinematographer Peter Deming (“Mulholland Dr.,” “Drag Me to Hell”), two-time Academy Award–winning production designer Robert Stromberg (“Alice in Wonderland,” “Avatar”), Oscar-winning film editor Bob Murawski (“The Hurt Locker,” the “Spider-Man” trilogy), veteran Oscar-nominated costume designer Gary Jones (“Spider-Man 2,” “The Talented Mr. Ripley”), visual effects Oscar winner Scott Stokdyk (“Spider-Man 2,” “Spider-Man”) and Academy Award–winning special makeup artist Howard Berger (“The Chronicles of Narnia” series), who will create the looks of several of the unique denizens of Oz, including creatures such as the Whimsies, the Tinkers and the Winkies, as well as the ghastly look of the Wicked Witch of the West.
Well, Raimi has his work cut out for him if he plans on making Mila Kunis look “ghastly”, but hell, I suppose if anyone can do it, he can.
Disney has set a MARCH 8, 2013 release date for the film.
Mila Kunis