I go away to New York for a couple of days and it’s suddenly announced that not-very-prolific director John Boorman has a new project and it’s a CGI adaptation of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, L. Frank Baum’s famous fantasy book.
I have to admit I’ve been wondering when we’d be back in Oz – the franchise remains shockingly untapped beyond the first two books, leaving 12 more to be adapted. And better yet, they’re all public domain in the United States. With the huge fantasy revival going on it seemed like a flop like Return to Oz wouldn’t be enough to keep Hollywood out of the Emerald City forever.
But France got to it first, and Boorman’s adaptation – costing a bargain basement and sequel-guaranteeing 25 million dollars – is already well underway for a 2010 release. Now Aint It Cool has nabbed some of the concept art for the film, and I like what I see. It looks more than a touch Miyazakian, for starters.
Head over to AICN to see all of the main characters and Munchkinland. I like the Tin Woodsman a lot.
By the way, I haven’t had a chance to read anyone else’s coverage of Boorman’s Wonderful Wizard of Oz – has anybody commented on how perfect this is, since his borderline unwatchable classic Sean Connery in a diaper movie Zardoz actually uses Wizard of Oz as a crucual plot point? The title itself is Wi(Zard) of (Oz). Amazing!
6 comments
My dad watched Zardoz in the theater on its first run. he said laughed through most of the film.
Wi(Zard) of (Oz). Cool. I never noticed that before.
Wizard Of Oz is one of those movies that you've seen before you even watch it.
You never noticed before?? Then you haven't seen the movie before, it's shown quite clearly. CORRECT THIS MISTAKE!! Zardoz is absolutely hillarious. Just to hear Sean utter "Stay within my aura!".
I've heard that this isn't a remake of the film, it's an adaption of the book, which is SO DIFFERENT. It's not that different. The only major difference is, even though it's supposed to be completely non-violent according to the preface, the tin woodsman kills a lot of animals with his ax. Like, a lot of them. Big steaming piles of carnage, I kid you not. I'm looking forward to seeing that in the film.
john boorman- suck ass director…watched "the general" based on danny boyle's commentary on 28 days later..big mistake, the movie was so disjointed and cliche it was unbelievable
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