Hold your ruby red slippers and fix the yellow brick road: a remake of “Wizard of Oz” is being produced at New Line Cinema.
Nicole Kassell (“Watchmen”) is directing the film, an adaptation of L. Frank Baum’s beloved book, “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz”. Baum’s story has been retold on the big and small screen many times over the years; the most memorable is the 1939 musical classic starring Judy Garland.
However, New Line promises that the next film will be a “new vision” of Dorothy and the Land of Oz, adding that it can “take advantage of other elements” of Garland’s “Wizard of Oz” – such as the award-winning ruby red slippers.
“I am incredibly honored to join Temple Hill and the New Line to bring this beloved classic to the screen,” said Kassell. “Although the 1939 musical is part of my DNA, I am happy and humble with the responsibility to rethink such a legendary story. The opportunity to examine the original themes – the search for courage, love, wisdom and home – seems more timely and urgent than ever. These are deeply iconic shoes to fill, and I look forward to dancing alongside these heroes from my childhood as we pave a newly minted yellow brick road! “
The sketches of the previous script were written by Darren Lemke and the duo Neil Widener and Gavin James.
Marty Bowen and Wyck Godfrey of Temple Hill and Marc Platt will be the producers. Isaac Klausner will be the executive producer.
Kassell recently won an Emmy and a DGA award for HBO’s “Watchmen”. As executive producer and director of several episodes, Kassell is considered the visual architect of the acclaimed series. His talent for world building was what made New Line eager to hire Kassell to reimagine “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz”.
Kassell’s first feature was “The Woodsman”, which debuted at the Sundance Film Festival in 2004. She also worked on TNT’s “The Leftovers”, “Vinyl” and “Claws”. His next projects include directing the HBO pilot “The Baby” and the film “Silver Seas” for Participant Media.
Deadline first reported the news.