With Spiderman behind him, director Sam Raimi has been balancing a lot of potential projects lately, including a Wizard of Oz prequel, Oz the Great and Powerful. Raimi was tapped to helm the project back in June, and early rumors were pointing to Robert Downey Jr. playing the title character in his prime. Now, new details have surfaced.
Pajiba (via the Hollywood Cog) has divulged the film will reveal a twisted backstory for the man behind the curtain.
Warning – sex and spoilers after the jump!
According to Pajiba, the Wizard is a “snake-oil salesman” who enters the Technicolor world of Oz after escaping the vengeful husband of his latest sexual conquest. Once in Oz, he lies to the natives, claiming to be a wizard. This deceitful Casanova soon falls for Glinda the Good Witch, and spurns Theodora prompting her to becomes a bad witch and team up with the downright evil Evanora to destroy Oz. Now the “fast-talking huckster” has to redeem himself by joining forces with his beloved Glinda to save all of Oz!
Oviously, this isn’t your momma’s Wizard of Oz. The Raimi flick is set to be steeped in sexuality as, “Both Evanora and Theodora are described as incredibly attractive, seductive women, and Theodora likes to wear black, thigh-high boots.” With sex, lust, and jealousy playing such a big role in the plot, I’m hoping the film will get an R rating. However even if the producers shoot for PG-13 to catch that ever-popular tween demographic, a script penned by Mitchell Kapner (Whole Nine Yards) and polished by acclaimed and audacious playwright David Lindsay-Abaire, Oz the Great and Powerful guarantees an interesting take on an old crew of characters.
So let’s start speculating on casting!
What do you think of this sexified twist on the land of Oz? Who would you like to see take on the roles of the witches?