'Oz, the Great and Powerful'

[Tom Morrow]

Rachel Weisz may play wicked witch

Rachel Weisz to Play Evil Witch in Disney's 'Oz' The Oscar-winning actress joins James Franco and Mila Kunis in the project, to be directed by Sam Raimi Hollywood Reporter Oscar-winning actress Rachel Weisz is in negotiations to play the villainess in Oz: The Great and Powerful, Disney’s prequel-ish take on The Wizard of Oz tale that stars James Franco and Mila Kunis and is being directed by Sam Raimi. Weisz would play Evanora, a powerful, evil witch who intends to rule the land. She is the sister of Theadora (Kunis) and tries to seduce her to the dark side. by Borys Kit complete article

Submitted by Ezra

[Tom Morrow]

Rachel Weisz must choose between Oz and Bourne

Rachel Weisz May Star in ‘The Bourne Legacy’ Latino Review Decisions. Decisions. Universal Pictures is in negotiations with actress Rachel Weisz to star in “The Bourne Legacy” with Jeremy Renner, according to Deadline. It is not known what her role may be in the film. Weisz is also in talks with Walt Disney Studios for “Oz: The Great and Powerful” to star as one of the witches. Which role do you think she should take this summer? by Gig Patta complete article

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[Tom Morrow]

Release date March 8, 2013

Disney Sets 'Oz, the Great and Powerful' for 2013 James Franco is set to play the young wizard in the Sam Raimi-directed 3D prequel Hollywood Reporter Disney has set a release date for 3D event pic Oz: The Great and Powerful: March 8, 2013. Directed by Sam Raimi, Oz is a prequel to the classic movie The Wizard of Oz. Oz stars James Franco as a young circus magician whose hot air balloon is transported to the land of Oz, where he becomes the wizard. Mitchell Kapner and David Lindsay-Abaire penned the script. Mila Kunis is set to star as one of the two magical witches who control Oz. Joe Roth is producing Oz, and is hoping to replicate the success of Alice in Wonderland, which grossed north of $1 billion at the worldwide box office for Disney and Roth. by Pamela McClintock —

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[Tom Morrow]

More casting for OZ

Zach Braff Joins 'Oz: The Great & Powerful' Deadline New York Zach Braff is in final talks to join Disney's Oz: The Great and Powerful, the Sam Raimi-directed film for Disney. Braff will play the role of Frank, the loyal but under-appreciated assistant to Oz (James Franco), a charismatic circus magician who is treated as a powerful wizard after his balloon blows off course into Oz and the townsfolk want him to eradicate a Wicked Witch and bring peace. Mila Kunis will play the witch Theodora, Michelle Williams will play Glinda and Rachel Weisz will play Evanora. The pic starts shooting in July in Michigan. by Mike Fleming complete article

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King Crowned For 'Oz' Role Variety Showblitz Eleven-year-old actress Joey King has landed the sought-after role of China Girl in Disney's Oz: The Great and Powerful, Variety's Jeff Sneider exclusively reports. China Girl, who's made of porcelain, is taken in by Oz after her family is killed by an evil witch (Weisz). King is best known for playing Ramona in last year's Ramona and Beezus. A J Marechal complete article

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[Tom Morrow]

Warner owns MGM's "visual depictions" of Oz characters

Warner Bros. Wins Key Legal Ruling Impacting All 'Wizard of Oz' Remakes The Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals hands down a potentially big decision on some iconic characters thought by many to be outside copyright protection Hollywood Reporter In 1900, L. Frank Baum wrote the famous children's novel, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. It's easy to assume that since the book was published more than 110 years ago, the characters of Dorothy, the Scarecrow, the Cowardly Lion and the rest are safely in the public domain. Or so Hollywood hopes. Many movie studios are in the midst of re-adapting the classic. But the truth about what's in the public domain and what's not may be a little murky, thanks to a decision on Tuesday by the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals. Warner Bros. owns the rights to the 1939 MGM movie, The Wizard of Oz, starring Judy Garland. Warners may have won a much bigger point, and the decision has the potential to impact everything we think we know about the public domain, as well as several Wizard of Oz remakes currently in development. In essence, the panel of justices finds that the features of film characters can be copyrighted even if these characters were based on prior work. According to the decision "the scope of the film copyrights covers all visual depictions of the film characters at issue" There are nine Wizard of Oz projects currently in development, by one count, including a big-budget 3D film by Disney directed by Sam Raimi and starring James Franco that's meant to be a prequel to the classic film. Might these films have to be very, very careful going forward? continue by Eriq Gardner complete article

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[Ezra]

Warner owns MGM's "visual depictions" of Oz characters... Might these films {including a big-budget 3D film by Disney} have to be very, very careful going forward?

I don't think this will be a serious problem. Disney has been very skilled at crafting distinctly original (read copyright-able) character designs. It's a concern that goes all the way back to the loss of Oswald's rights in the 1928.

Walt Disney not only wanted to own all his characters securely, but to create unique designs for them in order to protect the images — especialy those in public domain. For example, anyone can depict the character of Snow White in any medium they choose; but must not depict her wearing a particular dress with a blue bodice, yellow skirt, red puff-sleves and a high white colllar because that particluar design is owned by Disney.

Main characters in Disney films often only one or two costumes during an entire film. Disney princesses have one peasant outfit and one formal, often quite similar to eachother. The fewer the variations, the easier the character's image is to protect. It's easy to accept in animated films, but this is even true in some of the live-action films. Julie Andrews' costumes for Mary Poppins are a mix-and-match ensemble of the same few pieces in different colors throughout the entire film (except the Jolly Holiday sequence); and Bert has only two costumes. It's all very strictly controlled in order to associate Disney designs with a particular character in the public mind; partly to control their character copyrights.

Disney has been a power-player in the rights game for a long time now. They'll certainly re-visualize these characters. I think they know not to put Glinda The Good in a pink taffeta fairy-ballerina-princess costume.

[Executioner]

I am sure this lawsuit has been going for some time and Disney had to of know by now what they were up against as research is key to any story they want to make or remake.

[Tom Morrow]

Oz begins filming

Disney's Sam Raimi directed 'Oz' begins filming in Michigan Oscar-nominated James Franco, Rachel Weisz and Mila Kunis lead the cast of the film reboot Hollywood Reporter There's no place like Michigan. The Sam Raimi directed Wizard of Oz reboot began filming on Monday, July 25th at the brand-new Raleigh Studios in Pontiac, Michigan. The production will take place in its entirety in the 200,000 square foot sound stage at Raleigh Michigan Studios. Oz The Great and Powerful is set for a March 8, 2013 release. by Sophie Schillaci complete article

Submitted by Ezra

[Executioner]

Awesome!!!! Can't wait to see how they are doing this.

[Tom Morrow]

New 'Oz' details

'Oz: The Great and Powerful': new details revealed Disney unveils concept art that is said to feature the green hills of Oz along with a yellow brick road that isn't entire made of bricks The Hollywood Reporter Disney has released new details on Oz, the Great and Powerful, its Sam Raimi-directed Wizard of Oz reboot, a few weeks after filming began. At the company's D23 expo over the weekend, concept art was unveiled for the movie, which stars James Franco as the title character from L. Frank Baum's beloved story. The artwork featured "several images of the lush, emerald green hills of Oz, with the yellow — but not always bricked — road winding its way throughout," according to ComingSoon.net. "The impossible geography of Oz showed through as well, with arching rock formations seemingly miles long and a mountain shaped like an elephant. Pictures of the Emerald City showcased an art deco influence." Meanwhile, Disney also re-released an official synopsis for the movie: Walt Disney Pictures' fantastical adventure Oz The Great and Powerful, directed by Sam Raimi, 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. The cast also includes Zach Braff as Diggs’ circus assistant. Joey King (Ramona and Beezus) voices a CGI character. The movie began shooting July 25 at the brand-new Raleigh Studios in Pontiac, Mich. and is set to open March 8, 2013. Heat Vision complete article

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[Tom Morrow]

Warner challenges Disney over 'Oz' trademarks

Disney, Warner Bros. fighting over 'Wizard of Oz' trademarks The underlying work is in the public domain, but Warners is reminding everyone about its 1939 film Hollywood Reporter In October, Warner Bros. very quietly filed a trademark registration on "The Great and Powerful Oz." Why is this newsworthy? Well, Disney's coming reboot of the story, directed by Sam Raimi and starring James Franco, is titled Oz, the Great and Powerful. Warners filed its trademark registration only one week after Disney had filed its own. On Wednesday, an examiner at the United States Trademark Office suspended Warners' trademark attempt because Disney had come first. But that's not the end of the story, if a recent 8th Circuit Court of Appeals decision and lots of activity at the Trademark Office are any indication. In the past year, Warners has been one of the most aggressive filers of oppositions at the USPTO's Trademark Trial & Appeal Board. Especially over The Wizard of Oz. For instance, the company has gone after potential merchandise associated with Dorothy of Oz, a $60 million-budgeted animation film scheduled to be released later this year by Summertime Entertainment. Warner will need to move soon before a final decision is made on Disney's attempts to claim trademarks around its coming film. Disney has already showcased art for the movie and plans to have it hit theaters in March 2013. Disney is also known for its merchandising tie-ins, and its registration on "Oz, the Great and Powerful" is over stuff like cosmetics, clothing, backpacks, office and school supplies, and watches. by Eriq Gardner complete article

Submitted by Ezra

[Twilight_Roxas]

So this the second time Disney is making a film based off the Wizard of Oz.

[Tom Morrow]

'Oz the Great and Powerful' poster

'Oz the Great and Powerful' poster unveiled by Disney The Wrap Disney has released the first poster from its upcoming fantastical adventure Oz The Great and Powerful. The movie, produced by Joe Roth, imagines the origins of the Wizard of Oz. It will hit U.S. theaters on March 8, 2013. When Oscar Diggs (James Franco), a small-time circus magician with dubious ethics, is hurled away from dusty Kansas to the Land of Oz, he thinks he’s hit the jackpot — until he meets three witches, played by Mila Kunis, Rachel Weisz and Michelle Williams. by Todd Cunningham —

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Submitted by Ezra

[Ezra]

Without further ado, here is the first trailer for Oz, The Great and Powerful:
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[Executioner]

Looks interesting!!!!!!! I am in for seeing this!