So it ends. Disney has found its wizard for the Sam Raimi directed prequel Oz: The Great and Powerful and it’s the man who most of us cinephiles will be watching in 48 hours time when he co-hosts the Oscars – James Franco.
For a long time Disney had Robert Downey Jr. pegged as the man who would pull on the cape of the Pre-Wizard of Oz wizard for Sam Raimi but he pulled out and it has taken a while for Disney to find their man. David Lindsay-Abaire’s story is based on the journey of the Wizard before met Dorothy in the Emerald City, and it is one of the many Oz projects on the go at the moment.
Deadline‘s report confirms the rumour that Franco was in talks to star in Raimi’s film and as well as garnering plaudits for his performance as Danny Boyle’s 127 Hours Franco is set to lead Rise of the Apes, itself a prequel, later in the year.
