A 'Wizard Of Oz' Remake Is In The Works

We're getting a movie adaptation of L. Frank Baum's kids novel The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. Judy Garland's 1939 classic film The Wizard of Oz was based on the children's book. Now, Nicole Kassell is set to helm the movie adaptation of the book. Nicole Kassell (The Woodsman, Watchmen, Westworld) will be taking a fresh, new approach to the classic story.

"I am incredibly honored to join Temple Hill and New Line in bringing this beloved classic to the screen. 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!" Kassell said in a statement, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Kassell made her directorial debut with the 2004 film The Woodsman which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival and starred Kevin Bacon and Kyra Sedgwick. She later helmed 2011’s A Little Bit of Heaven, starring Kate Hudson and Gael Garcia Bernal. The 49-year-old has also directed several episodes of TV including Watchmen, Westworld, The Americans, Vinyl, American Crime, The Leftovers, Rectify, The Following, Better Call Saul, and The Killing. Her upcoming projects include directing the HBO pilot The Baby and the movie Silver Seas for Participant Media. As for the Wizard of Oz remake, Isaac Klausner will executive produce and Marty Bowen and Wyck Godfrey of Temple Hill will produce.

According to Variety, New Line promises the upcoming film will be a “fresh take” on Dorothy and the Land of Oz, also mentioning that it can “draw on other elements” from Garland’s “Wizard of Oz” — like the prized ruby red slippers. While we've seen many remakes of the classic tale, perhaps the 1939 musical starring Judy Garland is the most memorable, and surely iconic of all the versions. Warner Bros. owns New Line so it's likely that many elements from the film can be easily incorporated. But we'll just have to see how the retelling of the story will turn out. According to Fox 8, Baum’s 1900 novel has had many versions over the years. The most recent Wizard of Oz film came from the Walt Disney Co.’s Oz the Great and Powerful in 2013. The film was directed by Sam Raimi and featured James Franco. The story was set 20 years before the events of the 1939 classic. What we know so far about Kassell’s version is that it will not be a musical. That's a bit disappointing, right? Let's see how it turns out!