The reaction was
rather divided yesterday when we reported
Todd McFarlane was
working on a "revisionist" take on
The Wizard of Oz.
McFarlane critics: breathe a sigh of relief (and McFarlane fans, furrow your
brows). As it turns out, McFarlane has less involvement with the project than previously thought.
Project screenwriter
Josh Olson made a
comment on the Publisher’s Weekly blog (which we’ve since confirmed to be
authentic), clarifying his role and McFarlane’s role for the movie:
"While it was Todd’s idea to bring back Oz,
and that idea sparked this whole process, I’ve never met him, never heard his
take, and am not writing this script with anyone else. I love the Baum books,
and leapt at the chance to bring those amazing stories and characters to a new
audience.
The story I pitched to Warners – and that they
hired me to write – is, I believe, faithful to the spirit and tone of those
amazing books. I think even Todd would be happy to tell you, this movie has no
connection whatsoever to those action figures, and when I say it will be darker,
do not expect it to go beyond Harry Potter dark.
You’ll be seeing many of your favorite
characters return from the classic film, as well as meeting loads of Baum’s
other great characters. While I’ve created my own distinct plot, it’s all built
around Baum’s characters, Baum’s world, and Baum’s vision. I think Oz fans will
recognize my love for the source material, and will be very happy with the
finished result."
No director or release date has been announced
for the project, which will be released through a partnership between Warner
Bros. and Village Roadshow Pictures.
Source:
The Beat
