Oz The Great & Powerful didn’t even make it to midnight screening before Disney finally let it slip that they have a sequel in the works– one that is likely to be fast-tracked with $150m already in the worldwide bank after a single weekend. Apparently Disney is going to need to scramble for a new director though, and perhaps we’ll have the pleasure of covering rumors about Raimi’s next project for a few months, as he’s stated that he’s not interested in directing a second film.
Or perhaps he’s not interested in directing the second film for the same fee…
I haven’t planned on directing the sequel. I did leave some loose ends for another director if they want to make the picture. I tried to make it a complete ending, so that the audience would be fulfilled, but I also let Evenora and Theodora get away.
I was attracted to this story but I don’t think the second one would have the thing I would need to get me interested.
That is all more than vague enough that he can sign on to a sequel for the right price and explain it away with, “Well James and I talked about it and we struck up on an idea of some things Oz might struggle with as a ruler, what sort of story could be told with these witches still flying around.”
So is Raimi legitimately moving on, or simply making it clear to Disney that they’re going to have make it worth his while to follow the yellow brick road any farther?
Frankly, I’m inclined towards the latter considering some other comments he’s made recently. The director has stated a few times that he felt vaguely uncomfortable about seeing the new Spider-Man reboot, comparing it to an ex’s wedding. He recently drummed up the courage though, and I wish he would have stuck to his, “I’m not seeing it” line rather than being the diplomat.
“It was very hard for me to see the new Spider-Man movie, I felt so attached to it, I couldn’t see Spider-Man with another director; it’s like my love, and I didn’t want to walk in on my love with someone else. It was just like that. Then I got over myself last week and said, ‘just see the damn thing’. And I did, and I loved it. I actually felt free. I thought, ‘why am I carrying around this baggage?’ Of course the next Spider-Man story should be told, and [Marc Webb] did a wonderful job telling that. I loved the movie, and I’m looking forward like a fan to the next instalment. I love the comic book, and now I don’t feel bound, and I’m really glad somebody’s remaking it again.”
Sure thing, Mr. Raimi.
Source | Coming Soon, Bleeding Cool (via Indiewire)
6 comments
Yeah, I would have preferred either he didn’t see it or he saw it and said: “I can finally let go. I know now for sure I made the better Spider-Man movie(s).”
Why? What if he DID actually like it? Lets call a spade a spade here. ASM WAS better than Raimis part 1, by far. Was it better than 2? Oh hell no. Not by a country mile. Nowhere near, but in terms of story strength, character development, villain empathy, structure, it was superior. Thats not to say Raimis was terrible, it was still good, but you know what, people look at the past with rose coloured glasses. Dig up some release reviews of Spiderman. People were on the fence about it back then too…
This whole thing with wanting Raimi to hate it? Gale Ann Hurd just said in a video, I think on IGN, that its funny how people on websites love to create stories and situations for celebrities and run with it, to create issues that aren’t there. This completely reeks of it. What if Raimi DID like it? Who says hes being diplomatic? Take something on face value and stop the cynical attitude for once, especially you Renn. Sheesh.
Amazing Spider Man was fucking garbage. Nearly unwatchable.
Hey, maybe he, you know, actually liked it. A lot of people did.
Exactly! When did the first spiderman movie become so fucking revered? Its a piece of shit! After Drag me To Hell, I never wanted to see a Raimi directed Spiderman movie again. That movie proved that Raimi’s abilities were mostly wasted on that franchise.
I love film. I love Sam Raimi. I love his first Spiderman film….but I thought The Amazing Spiderman was way better. Goofy and fun like the Spiderman of my youth, yet a little more “real” with the characters than Raimi’s. And the scene when he first gets his powers is brilliant, hillarious! Anyway, I could see Raimi loving it too.
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