New Line Cinema is putting together a fresh take on Frank Baum’s legendary novel The Wonderful Wizard Of Oz.
It looks like we’ll be travelling back to Oz, with the news that New Line Cinema is putting together a new version of the classic children’s tale, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.
Nicole Kassell, who helmed 2004’s The Woodsman but is also known for her sterling work in TV, will direct. Kassell has directed episodes of some of the smaller screen’s most interesting shows from the last few years, including Watchmen, Westworld and The Leftovers.
With regards to getting the chance to oversee a reimagining of the iconic 1939 film that featured Judy Garland, Kassell said that “I am incredibly honoured to join Temple Hill and New Line in bringing this beloved classic to the screen”.
“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!”
Also, because New Line is owned by Warner Bros, who in turn owns the film rights for the original movie, it also means that Kassell’s film will be able to use the iconic ruby slippers as well as character likenesses from the original film.
Disney’s dark Return To Oz in 1985 famously had to pay rather a lot of money to use the ruby footwear, because they are a feature from the 1939 film, rather than the book’s use of silver slippers (we can only imagine that red would have shown up better in glorious Technicolor). With the new adaptation, it seems that there will be no impediments for Kassell to adapt the book as she sees fit. More news on this one as we hear it.
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