James Franco in Oz: The Great and PowerfulSam Raimi’s Oz: The Great and Powerful promises to be one of the best films of next year, and we can’t wait for it to arrive in the spring. The first trailer was absolutely fantastic back in the summer, and since then, we’ve recently been teased with the first and second parts of a new three-part series of posters.

Whilst we await the final part to arrive, USA Today have debuted a handful of terrific new images, giving us a look at our leading cast, in James Franco, Mila Kunis, Michelle Williams, Rachel Weisz, and Zach Braff (in animated form).

“When Oscar Diggs, 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, Evanora and Glinda, 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.”

Starring alongside them will be Abigail Spencer, Tim Holmes, and Joey King, with Braff taking dual roles, including lending his voice as the winged monkey, Finley.

Raimi is directing from a script by Mitchell Kapner (The Whole Nine Yards) and David Lindsay-Abaire (Rabbit Hole), with Joe Roth (Alice in Wonderland) producing, and Raimi partnering once more with the brilliant Danny Elman (Spider-Man), who’s scoring the film.

Oz: The Great and Powerful will be arriving in theatres on 8th March, 2013, and given the brilliant and beautiful vision we’re teased with in the trailer, I’m rather hoping it will secure an IMAX release, too. For now, here are the excellent new images, which you can click through to enlarge.