HOLLYWOOD SPY SPOTLIGHT ON FANTASY ADVENTURE "OZ THE GREAT AND POWERFUL" WITH RACHEL WEISZ, MICHELLE WILLIAMS, MILA KUNIS, JAMES FRANCO

 I don't know if you have noticed by now, but March is usually the month when we have epic films and fantasy adventures opening up the new cinematic season in theatres. It happened this year with Tarsem's delightful MIRROR MIRROR and the film which has the honour to bring up the fantasy spice into cinemas in March 2013 is Sam Raimi's OZ THE GREAT AND POWERFUL. Set before the famous classic film from 1939, this one is also inspired by L. Frank Baum's classic bestseller "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz"! Don't forget to check out the second trailer for the film below.

THE STORY OF OZ

Disney's fantastical adventure, directed by Sam Raimi, imagines the origins of L. Frank Baum's beloved character, the Wizard of Oz. When Oscar Diggs (James Franco), a small-time circus magician with dubious ethics, is hurled away from dusty Kansas to the vibrant Land of

Oz, he thinks he's hit the jackpot - fame and fortune are his for the taking - that is until he meets three witches, Theodora (Mila Kunis), Evanora (Rachel Weisz) and Glinda (Michelle Williams), who are not convinced he is the great wizard everyone's been expecting. Reluctantly drawn into the epic problems facing the Land of Oz and its

inhabitants, Oscar must find out who is good and who is evil before it is too late. Putting his magical arts to use through illusion, ingenuity, and even a bit of wizardry, Oscar transforms himself not only into the great and powerful Wizard of Oz but into a better man as well.

THE CAST OF OZ

The lead role of Oscar Diggs is given to James Franco who is working with Raimi for the second time after SPIDERMAN movies,  while Mila Kunis appears as Theodora the Wicked Witch of the West and

Michelle Williams portrays Glenda the Good Witch. Rachel Weisz will be seen as Evanora the Wicked Witch of the East and horror movie icon Bruce Campbell appears in the role of the Dark Wizard. 

Television comedian Zach Braff from SCRUBS also plays in the film alongside Sam Raimi's favourite actor and brother Ted Raimi whom you remember as the clumsy hero from HERCULES and XENA.

OZ TIDBITS

The budget of the film is estimated at around stunning $200 million and some people believe it is a risky business given the fact how much the film looks like Tim Burton's ALICE IN WONDERLAND

with almost identical visual aspect! Johnny Depp and Robert Downey Jr. were the first choices for the main role. Amy Adams, Olivia Wilde, Blake Lively (who made a less intelligent choice of

starring in SAVAGES instead of being Glinda) and Kate Beckinsale were all in the run for the roles of the witches. Sam Raimi wanted Hilary Swank for the role of Evanora, but the studio wouldn't  hear about such horrid choice and demanded for the role to be given to brilliant Rachel Weisz. This is not the only fairy tale film coming up

in the future since we also have HANSEL AND GRETEL in January 2013 and Angelina Jolie's MALEFICENT awaiting premiere. It is interesting that the music for OZ THE GREAT AND POWERFUL is

being composed by Danny Elfman even though he and Sam Raimi had a huge fight during SPIDERMAN 2 shooting after which they said they would never work together again.

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