Brenton
Screenwriter
- Joined
- Jun 25, 2002
- Messages
- 1,169
After pitching the idea to Warner Bros, Josh Olson (Oscar-nominated screenwriter of The History of Violence) has been hired to adapt L. Frank Baum's Oz books for the screen. The fourteen-book series was originally published between 1900 and 1920, beginning with The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (upon which the popular 1939 Judy Garland film is based).
When the news first broke, there was some confusion about how closely it would adhere to the source material, and whether or not it would be a "dark" revisionist take on Oz. The reason for this confusion is Spawn creator Todd McFarlane's role as producer of the project. Within the last few years, McFarlane created a line of figurines of darkly reimagined Oz characters, including a BDSM-style Dorothy.
However, these rumors have been allayed by writer Olson. He reveals that he has, in fact, never even met McFarlane. "I think even Todd would be happy to tell you, this movie has no connection whatsoever to those action figures, and when I say it will be darker, do not expect it to go beyond Harry Potter dark."
I know that a lot of fans of the 1939 MGM version will be opposed to the idea of "re-making" The Wizard of Oz. My argument against this kind of thinking is that it's NOT a remake of that movie. It is to be a new movie based on the same novel that the previous movie was based on. Making the Oz books for the screen using today's visual effects seems like a natural move, with the popularity and success of recent movies like The Lord of the Rings series, the Harry Potter series, and The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe and its forthcoming sequel.
L. Frank Baum's Oz books have been my favorite books ever since I was nine years old, and ever since I was just that young, I've been feeling the need for a film that represents Baum's original book more accurately than the MGM version does. I'm not putting down the MGM version. It's been my favorite movie since before I could talk. But coming from as well-informed an Oz fan as I am, I think it's safe to say that it's about time.
I'm really excited by Josh Olson's obvious enthusiasm for the source material. He says, "it’s all built around Baum’s characters, Baum’s world, and Baum’s vision."
Warners will be making the movie in conjunction with Village Roadshow Pictures. Basil Iwanyk will be co-producer with McFarlane. Rick Benattar is executive producer.
(Source: 1, 2, 3, 4.)
When the news first broke, there was some confusion about how closely it would adhere to the source material, and whether or not it would be a "dark" revisionist take on Oz. The reason for this confusion is Spawn creator Todd McFarlane's role as producer of the project. Within the last few years, McFarlane created a line of figurines of darkly reimagined Oz characters, including a BDSM-style Dorothy.
However, these rumors have been allayed by writer Olson. He reveals that he has, in fact, never even met McFarlane. "I think even Todd would be happy to tell you, this movie has no connection whatsoever to those action figures, and when I say it will be darker, do not expect it to go beyond Harry Potter dark."
I know that a lot of fans of the 1939 MGM version will be opposed to the idea of "re-making" The Wizard of Oz. My argument against this kind of thinking is that it's NOT a remake of that movie. It is to be a new movie based on the same novel that the previous movie was based on. Making the Oz books for the screen using today's visual effects seems like a natural move, with the popularity and success of recent movies like The Lord of the Rings series, the Harry Potter series, and The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe and its forthcoming sequel.
L. Frank Baum's Oz books have been my favorite books ever since I was nine years old, and ever since I was just that young, I've been feeling the need for a film that represents Baum's original book more accurately than the MGM version does. I'm not putting down the MGM version. It's been my favorite movie since before I could talk. But coming from as well-informed an Oz fan as I am, I think it's safe to say that it's about time.
I'm really excited by Josh Olson's obvious enthusiasm for the source material. He says, "it’s all built around Baum’s characters, Baum’s world, and Baum’s vision."
Warners will be making the movie in conjunction with Village Roadshow Pictures. Basil Iwanyk will be co-producer with McFarlane. Rick Benattar is executive producer.
(Source: 1, 2, 3, 4.)