Sam Raimi has committed to direct Disney’s ‘Wizard of Oz‘ prequel Oz: The Great and Powerful with David Lindsay-Abaire also boarding the project to rewrite the script:
I’m told that Disney now expects Raimi to start production next year. Meanwhile, the studio has hired for rewrite duty David Lindsay-Abaire, who just adapted his Pulitzer Prize-winning play Rabbit Hole into a drama that will be Lionsgate’s Oscar hope — particularly for Nicole Kidman — following the mini-major’s acquisition of the drama at the Toronto International Film Festival.
Robert Downey Jr. is still rumored to be playing Oz, but he hasn’t been locked into the role yet:
Downey hasn’t locked in yet, but it’s looking good. He was initially lukewarm on Oz and turned down several early approaches.
Source: Deadline