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BREAKING: Disney has staked out the weekend of March 8, 2013 to release the Sam Raimi-directed 3D Oz: The Great and Powerful. The film is still casting, but James Franco stars as the title character, with Mila Kunis playing Theodora, Michelle Williams in talks to play Glinda and Rachel Weisz in talks to play Evanora. The film begins production late July in Michigan. Franco plays the charlatan circus magician whose balloon is blown off course. It lands in Oz, where he’s treated as a real wizard by the colorful citizens who see him as the man to rid the lands of a wicked witch. Mitchell Kapner and David Lindsay-Abaire wrote the script, and Joe Roth is producing. Josh Donen and Grant Curtis are also producing and Palak Patel is exec producer.
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Did the producer of this flick NOT watch the Oscars? Franco is icky, and he might end up being box office poison.
Just saying.
I want Franco to go into hiding for a couple of years. I am completely tired of James’ stoned- looking smirk and his gigantic ego. Hilariously, Franco still feels he did nothing wrong at the Oscars.
He didn’t. At worst he did the best he could and didn’t succeed all the way. At best, he and Anne gave good to decent performances that people only jumped all over because they heard other people jumping all over it. Kinda like how critics fall all over themselves to over-bash or over-praise movies.
Its true, the box office potential of most big budget films is based on the icky factor.
Franco wasn’t really right for this even before he got cold.
I agree, I think they should have went with someone else.
Hugh Jackman immediately comes to mind.
wow. what a hot cast.
Franco is great, and hopefully the Oscar stink will clear up by then. But all in all it’s just Hollywood who thinks of that hosting gig when they think of Franco. For the rest of America, they don’t even remember the Oscars. Don’t forget, it’s not that big of a deal in the grand scheme of things. We think the whole world revolves around everything we do out here. It doesn’t, it shouldn’t, and just plain ol’ relax.
How did Your Highness do at the box office?
Not only do the rest rest of America not even remember the Oscars, a lot of them didn’t even watch them, nor do they care.
People don’t care about someone’s performance at an awards show.He’s an actor, he’s not a host or live entertainer.He acts.And he does it well.When he starts giving bad performances in films, that’s when it might hurt his career.
Apologies in advance, but Native should probably remove the “t” and be Naive. When has Franco carried a film and it been a success. His breakout role as James Dean, which he rocked, but since then… That being said, I do hope Oz is good and does succeed. I like Sam Raimi, David Lindsay-Abbaire and Grant Curtis and have enjoyed their previous movies, plays – work.
Apologies in advance, but CJ should probably remove the “C” and “J” and be “American Idiot.”
PINEAPPLE EXPRESS was a success, for which he was nominated for a Globe. JAMES DEAN was a TNT MOW, so how exactly was that a financial success as you so seem to think is the only way to judge a good actor.
I just don’t understand the Franco hate??? He may have been high for a live performance in a self-congratulatory awards show. Who cares?
Franco has worked with Van Sant, Danny Boyle, Sam Raimi, both box successful and arthouse directors and has given great performances in films like HOWL and SUNNY, in addition to MILK and 127 HOURS, as well as TV – FREAKS AND GEEKS.
Like Ryan Gosling, he is one of the top actors of our generation who choose both blockbuster films and arthouse. So what’s your problem with him?
He tanked in one live performance. Who the F cares! And while YOUR HIGHNESS – didn’t see it yet – didn’t do so well, at least he’s willing to have a little fun and make a HALF BAKED type movie. Geeze everyone, give the guy a break and realize the actor before your eyes.
I have no dog in this fight other than I appreciate good acting and actors who take chances.
Isn’t this the same Studio that released ‘Return to Oz’ in 1985! Sadly it bombed! They seem to have run out of steam!
James Franco? Name alone sends me the other way.
Skip.
The rest of America doesn’t take a performance as an Oscar Host that seriously in the overall list of an actor’s achievement. It’s a hard gig and easily forgiven. I will remember a performance
like ’127 Hours’ before I remember the hosting glitch.
The rest of America didn’t see 127 Hours.
Remember, folks, that James Franco is an ACTOR; not a standup comedian or a professional emcee.
He may not be a great actor, or even a very good actor, but he is certainly a better actor than he is an awards show host.
I have been looking forward to this movie since before Robert Downey Jr. was merely being courted for the lead role. Granted, I would prefer Downey in this role, but I am willing to give Franco the chance to prove himself.
“He may not be a great actor, or even a very good actor…”
What he is, is a stoned actor. It shows in his every performance (intentional or not) and personal appearance.
You have to be great before the public will allow a misstep (“Pineapple Express”, The Oscars…) and still give you a break. This asswipe has neither the talent nor the respect of his craft to warrant that public forgiveness for a faux pas or two. He might have made it to greatness one day but he’s more interested in getting baked than turning in a good performance. He’s over.
Bad casting, if he really does have the role of The Great Oz. I wouldn’t see it.
James Franco seems a very poor choice to play the Wizard; Too Young, too tall, too thin and too “Hollywood cool” to play the kind of person who we see as the Wizard in the orgianal 1939 film or the books.
I liked Franco in the Spiderman movies – I just think he’s the wrong choice for this role.
Downey would have been the perfect choice, older, shorter and able to talk like a con man from the midwest. And certainly quirky enough to play a fake wizard. I could believe he was the same person as was in the orginal Wiard of Oz only younger.
Hopefully Franco will drop out to do Transformers 4, Fast and Furious 6 or some other film he’d be more suited for…
Guys- he’s an Oscar nominated actor. And the movie’s premise alone will put people in the seats. Plus, he’s working with a great director and a good cast. Relax, trolls
This package is HUGE and it will be successful. Its really funny to me how many miserable troll assistants and out of work actors comment on this board. Go find a job at Mcdonalds like Franco did until he made his big breaks instead of sitting at home on your computer connected to the internet through the Wifi your stealing from your neighbor, putting down an actor who is 1000 times more talented than you, and who probably would have taken your girlfriend if you were ever fortunate enough to have had one in the first place. If you put as much energy into your career as you do into the jealousy and envy you have for James, you’d probably win an Oscar one day. Grow up, get off your butt and get to work.
suit, you sound like James Franco’s PR. Sorry, buddy, but the Truth hurts. James is not a great actor, but he definitely has wonderful PR backing him up for great media hype. His big ego cannot match his talent. I am all for education, James is constantly bragging about his schooling. Franco was wrong to blame the Oscar writers & Anne Hathaway ( for his stoned demeanor ) for the Oscar debacle. James didn’t contribute one bit to the Oscars, and that is why his Oscar failure will follow him for the rest of his life. Karma is a b.
I sense a house will soon fall on Rich Ross. Really smart to announce the release date during tornado season 2013. Are they thinking free publicity, or are they just too stupid to see a potential bump in the road on that one?
Sorry, but I love “The Wiz” with Diana Ross, Michael Jackson, Lena Horne and Richard Pryor. Magnificent movie!!!
Did you know that “Water for Elephants” choreographer Sebastien Stella is going to be the carnival choreographer on OZ?