Hollywood is once again following the Yellow Brick Road, as the beloved 1939 film The Wizard of Oz is being remade.
The Warner Bros. film is set to be a modern retelling of the classic and will be directed by Black-ish creator Kenya Barris.
Barris' Khalabo Ink Society will be producing the remake.
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However, details of the new-look film are still being kept under wraps.
The deal comes as Barris’ feature You People, starring Jonah Hill, Eddie Murphy, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Lauren London, Nia Long and David Duchovny, is in the post-production stages.
Barris is also working with Kid Cudi on a television event titled Entergalactic, a first-of-its-kind project inspired by the Grammy winner’s upcoming album of the same name.
The event will draw on adult animation, music, fashion and art to bring a story of modern Black love in New York City to Netflix screens.
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As well as The Wizard of Oz remake, Barris has also written the upcoming remake of the sports comedy White Men Can’t Jump, and is working on a feature film about comedian Richard Pryor, an animated movie inspired by the music of Bob Marley, and a feature-length musical about Juneteenth that he is producing alongside musician Pharrell Williams.
Barris’ remake of The Wizard of Oz is hardly new territory though.
It comes nearly a decade since Sam Raimi’s 2013 Oz The Great and Powerful, and follows the 1980’s film Return to Oz, and the 1970’s film The Wiz, and a musical version of The Wizard of Oz with an all-black cast, based on a Broadway show.
His remake is also completely separate from New Line’s previously announced retelling of The Wizard of Oz, which will be directed by Watchmen’s Nicole Kassell.
It's has been described as a 'fresh take' on the fictional land of Oz, teasing that it will 'draw on other elements' from the original, like the Dorothy’s ruby red slippers.
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If your wish for the wizard was for another remake of The Wizard of Oz, then you’re in luck.
A two-part film version of the broadway hit musical Wicked is on the way.
The film adaptation of the prequel will star Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba and Ariana Grande as Glinda the Good Witch, and will be directed by Jon M. Chu.
They’re currently scheduled for release around Christmas of 2024 and 2025.
Topics: TV and Film
Emma Xerri