It’s time to follow the yellow brick road again. The Wizard of Oz is getting a remake at New Line Cinema called The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, the title of L. Frank Baum’s classic book. The remake already has its director in Nicole Kassell, who directed three episodes of HBO’s Watchmen series.
Baum’s story has been recounted many times over the years on the big screen and small screen, but the most classic version was brought to life with Judy Garland that came out in 1939. The upcoming remake is meant to be a “fresh take” but New Line will take elements from Garland’s Wizard of Oz.
“I am incredibly honored to join Temple Hill and New Line in bringing this beloved classic to the screen,” Kassell said. “While 1939 musical is part of my DNA, I am exhilarated and humbled by the responsibility of re-imagining such a legendary tale. The opportunity to examine the original themes — the quest for courage, love, wisdom, and home — feels more timely and urgent than ever. These are profoundly iconic shoes to fill, and I am eager to dance alongside these heroes of my childhood as we pave a newly minted yellow brick road!”
Here is something interesting to know Wizard of Oz is in the public domain, which means that anyone can do anything they want with it except those ruby slippers as they are property to Warner Bros since they own the 1939 movie. In the books, the slippers are silver, not ruby red.