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EXCLUSIVE: Zach Braff is in final talks to join Disney’s Oz: The Great and Powerful, the Sam Raimi-directed film for Disney. Braff will play the role of Frank, the loyal but under-appreciated assistant to Oz (James Franco), a charismatic circus magician who is treated as a powerful wizard after his balloon blows off course into Oz and the townsfolk want him to eradicate a Wicked Witch and bring peace. Mila Kunis will play the witch Theodora, Michelle Williams will play Glinda and Rachel Weisz will play Evanora. The pic starts shooting in July in Michigan, with Joe Roth, Josh Donen and Grant Curtis producing and Palek Patel exec producing. Mitchell Kapner and David Lindsay-Abaire wrote the script, with Disney releasing the 3D film March 8, 2013.
Braff takes the role after writing his first play, All New People, which opens off-Broadway at the Second Stage Theatre with opening night July 25. Braff is also starring in the Tribeca Films feature High Cost of Living. He’s repped by CAA and Management 360.
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If this were 6 years ago, Franco would be playing HIS sidekick!
The casting of this movie is very odd to say the least. I like James Franco fine when given a role that suits him…this however is not one of those! Zach Braff…really? How about Frankie Muniz as a flying monkey? Or Howie Mandal as a bitter tree? I dunno, I don’t think I need the Wicked Witch of the West’s crystal ball to see that the future of this OZ prequel is none too bright. Someone throw a bucket of water on this waste of money before it’s too late!
First we have to endure James Franco as a “Brilliant Genetic Scientist” in “Rise of the Planet of the Apes”, a film in which even the couple of lines he utters in the trailer are groan inducing. Now he’s the choice to play the young Wizard of Oz in this ill advised prequel??? That is TERRIBLE casting, he is completely wrong for the character! When rumors were swirling it might be Robert Downey Jr. I had hope, but Franco? Oy! I don’t even dislike Franco, it’s just a terrible choice ala Kevin Costner as Robin Hood. Jimmy Stewart was a great actor, but there is a reason he never played Dracula! It does not seem like any thought is given to the appropriateness of a given actor being pared up with the right character anymore, just some vague notion that they are somewhat of a proven box office name and said yes. James Franco as the Wizard of Oz???…jeez, next thing you know someone’s going to be stupid enough to think he would be a swell Oscar host…oh wait.
I’m sorry; but this project sounds like it holds epic quantities of “suck.”
This project is very interesting and the casting choices are lining up in a very unexpected way..
Could this be one for the ages? I like how its starting out.
This is all management 360.
Eagle!!!!!!
A hospital can sometimes feel like a magical place, where people’s hopes and dreams are often far from ordinary. Whether they’re looking for brains, a heart, or courage. As for me, I was just gonna keep on following that yellow line and hope I’d eventually get back home.
love that episode. scrubs was the best show on tv, especially compared to most of the crap thats on their anymore.
Is this a comedy?
s/Evanora/Elphaba/
There. FTFY.
Whomever owns the rights to Wicked had better get off their ass. And they’d better do just what they did with Phantom; I refuse to believe they don’t have HD footage of the entire original B’way case…
Kiss of death.
Braff’s fun and not over-exposed.
I think he’ll be great.
Ugh. Thought we were done with this guy. Him and Franco together make for a no thank you sandwhich
Zach Braff is AWESOME and you’re a dick for saying that.
also, you spelled sandwich wrong.
When Robert Downey Jr was attached, I was very excited about this project. But now with JAMES FRANCO in the lead? My interest level is at ZERO. Nothing could make me see this.
Nicely put. Yes Franco was good in 1000 Hours. Yes he was good in Milk. But a movie like this needs someone who is quirky like Downey. Franco just puts me to sleep for the most part.
While I think that all the actors attached to this picture will do fine (I like all of them) I wish, just once, that someone could make a movie that actually follows the storyline set down by the author. Having read all the Oz books, and quite recently having re-read them, I had lots of ideas running through my head how they could be done to pretty much follow what, and how, Baum wrote. I even had the voices of actors that I think would do a great job (in my mind, all the movies would have to be animated to do the books justice) in the roles…
This guy is talentless and unpleasant. His ego was already out of control. Can’t imagine what this will do.
Braff is a comical genious… talentless and unpleasent??? HAVE YOU SEEN SCRUBS he did 9 seasons of comic gold. Scrubs was like the best show of the decade, he would be the perfect wizard too. why don’t you take your trolling somwhere else
At this rate, World of Warcraft won’t come out until we’re halfway through the new decade, if not later.
Just find a new director already.
Hilarious!
I saw the headline and clicked it to see if he was playing the scare crow. True story. Never heard of another “Oz” I think he looks like the scare crow.
James Franco in the lead? Ugh! Why doesn’t he just stay in school and earn another degree. This is going to be almost as bad as the Three Stooges fiasco.
Couldn’t be happier that this guy never achieved “leading man” status, as I want to punch him in the face every time he blinks.
Yet another all ego no talent brat continuing to succeed.
O! i din’t know you were succeding asshole Braff is a hero to billions around the world who watched scrubs. Hes perfect for any role except as a bad actor
I think he’s very talented – Garden State was great. He had his moments in Scrubs. Talented guy.
This project sounds incredible – a great cast, great director, and great producers – left off Mike’s list of those producing this pic is Philip Steuer, the Executive Producer tasked with the day-to-day job of getting this pic made on time and on budget.
Thanks for that tidbit, Phil!
genuinely really pleased for braff. love this casting.
I figured him more for the Beecher role, honestly
seriously? WICKED is the prequel to the wizard of oz. why they would feel the need to come up with something completely different is just… ugh. i highly doubt any of this will be even come close to wicked. as if.
so freaking annoyed by this.