Put on your ruby red slippers and get ready to follow the yellow brick road. “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz” is gearing up for a remake.
New Line is tapping “Watchmen” director Nicole Kassell to direct the adaptation of L. Frank Baum’s legendary children’s novel, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, Deadline reports.
“I am incredibly honored to join Temple Hill and New Line in bringing this beloved classic to the screen,” Kassell says.
Kassell continues, “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.”
New Line Studios believe that Kassell is a visionary filmmaker and will capture their inspiration for the remake. Kassell proved herself as the world-builder on the set of “Watchmen.”
What’s more, Kassell recently took home a DGA award for dramatic series and an Emmy for the HBO hit. Kassell’s previous work includes “The Woodsman,” “The Leftovers,” “Vinyl” and TNT’s “Claws.”
As a matter of fact, Kassell’s upcoming projects include directing the HBO pilot “The Baby” and the movie “Silver Seas.”
Marty Bowen and Wyck Godfrey from Temple Hill and Marc Platt are producing the film. Isaac Klausner is the executive producer.
‘Fresh Take’ on ‘The Wizard of Oz’
Baum’s beloved story about Dorothy from Kansas and the Wizard of Oz is a timeless tale. Perhaps the most memorable being the classic 1939 musical starring Judy Garland. It’s considered one of the best films ever made.
It features songs like “Over the Rainbow,” “We’re Off to See the Wizard,” and “Ding-Dong! The Witch is Dead.” As a matter of fact, the 1939 iconic film was nominated for six Academy Awards and ended up winning two.
Watch Judy Garland sing “Over the Rainbow.”
However, New Line says the upcoming film will be a “fresh take” on Dorothy and the Land of Oz. Additionally, the remake can “draw on other elements” from Garland’s “Wizard of Oz, ” especially the prized ruby red slippers.
In 1990, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz first came to life on the pages of a book. Additionally, the original inspired thirteen additional Oz books. The books and movies remain a fixation in American culture.
