Warner Bros. Seeking Robert Zemeckis for Remake of The Wizard of Oz

Warner Bros. Seeking Robert Zemeckis for Remake of The Wizard of Oz

In what could go down as one of the worse ideas in movie history, Warner Bros. is, according to Deadline.com, after director Robert Zemeckis to helm an actual remake of the 1939 classic, The Wizard of Oz.

News
By EdGross - Nov 16, 2010 05:11 PM EST
Filed Under: Fantasy
Source: Deadline

Writes Mike Fleming, "Warner Bros is in early talks with Robert Zemeckis to direct a live-action remake of the The Wizard of Oz and plans to use the original script from the 1939 classic. Warner Bros owns the screenplay because Ted Turner bought it along with the MGM library before Warner Bros bought Turner’s empire...Whenever you remake a revered Hollywood film, there’s bound to be controversy, but going right to the original material is certainly an interesting approach."

A BIT OF EDITORIALIZING: Fleming's wrong - going right to the original material is certainly NOT an interesting approach. Gus Van Sant tried it in the '90s with the remake of Psycho, which also used the original script as its source material, and that was a disaster.

What do you think?

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marvel72
marvel72 - 11/16/2010, 5:56 PM
they should make todd mcfarlane's wizard of oz,now that would be epic.
GUNSMITH
GUNSMITH - 11/16/2010, 6:01 PM
BIGBMH
BIGBMH - 11/16/2010, 6:03 PM
I think a new Wizard of Oz movie has a lot of potential, but using a script written in 1939 probably isn't the way to do it.
Bryanferryfan
Bryanferryfan - 11/16/2010, 6:06 PM
Why mess with a classic. Didn't they learn a lesson from the Fairuza Balk sequel.. "Return to Oz" that was a horrible film and remind's everyone that sometimes it's best to leave classic films alone.
EdGross
EdGross - 11/16/2010, 6:09 PM
The thing is, I don't have an issue with prequels and sequels and original tales set in Oz. I just think it's a terrible idea to remake The Wizard of Oz, especially using the same script. What's the purpose? It's not like it's an obscure film that no one is familiar with.
TheNameIsBetty
TheNameIsBetty - 11/16/2010, 6:31 PM
Eh...I was excited until I heard they were gonna use the original script....wtf people, learn from past mistakes.
I liked the remake of Psycho, but it just wasn't necessary to be so close.
Superman8
Superman8 - 11/16/2010, 6:41 PM
if this happens, i might stop watching movies all together. i mean it. i will boycott films. wont make a difference, but still. i am acutally angry about this. dumbest idea ever.
Luigi
Luigi - 11/16/2010, 6:45 PM
I was hoping that Sam Raimi Oz movie would put a stop to the idea of a remake.
Superzero
Superzero - 11/16/2010, 6:56 PM
@superman8

sure you will.
48and2
48and2 - 11/16/2010, 7:07 PM
Really they need to do it like Burton's Alice... that movie is what; Gone With The Wind, It's a Wonderful Life, Casablanca, and maybe Oz - they have something not all the actors of this generation or all the money in the world could ever capture again.......................................
TheGambitFreak
TheGambitFreak - 11/16/2010, 7:08 PM
@deadpool72 I wish! But he is working on a new Spawn movie/cartoon that comes out.... um, Oh never! He should give up Spawn do this, then take the money towards Spawn!
TheGambitFreak
TheGambitFreak - 11/16/2010, 7:10 PM
@Anil I love Brie Larson! Hate her music, when she sang in Scott Pilgrim that was the only time I liked her music.
Superman8
Superman8 - 11/16/2010, 7:40 PM
@ superzero

yeah. you prolly right. but still. haha. angry.
StuckInPanels
StuckInPanels - 11/16/2010, 7:47 PM
NONONONOONONONONONOONONONONONONOONONONONONONONOONONONONONONOONONONONOONONO
montana2rice
montana2rice - 11/16/2010, 8:05 PM
ok ok ok....correct me if i'm wrong but wizard of oz was the first color film ever. that being said...the jazz singer was the first movie with sound.....now i might be dating myself a bit here but the remake of the jazz singer was a nightmare wasnt it??? leave the wizzard of oz alone...let us remember it for what it was.
Tc
Tc - 11/16/2010, 8:15 PM
I like the original wizard of oz. But has anyone seen "Tin Man" that was a version of it made into a 2 part mini series. Its a great new version of the classic :D
Deadshot
Deadshot - 11/16/2010, 8:29 PM
leave classic films alone
Deadshot
Deadshot - 11/16/2010, 8:30 PM
Whats next a remake of Rocky, or the original Star Wars Film?
FtLoiterDale
FtLoiterDale - 11/16/2010, 9:40 PM
Agreed with Deadshot

You know how many people still buy updated versions of this film. It has lived on through and loved by so many generations and will continue to live on and be loved..
There's a reason why it's called a CLASSIC

If it ain't Broken.. Don't Fix it..



Anthrax
Anthrax - 11/16/2010, 9:55 PM
The [frick] the [frick] the fu ck!:-(
LEEE777
LEEE777 - 11/16/2010, 10:09 PM
ANIL @ I can't believe you done a casting of WIZARD OF OZ dude????

Lmao! ; p


ED @ Cool but like Deadpool said, a Twisted OZ from TODD would be [frick]ing fantastic!!!
YakeTheSnake
YakeTheSnake - 11/16/2010, 10:26 PM
Let us not forget that aside from using the original script(save a few changes to update the time-setting), "Psycho" was almost a "Shot-for-Shot" remake. It wasn't the use of the original script that doomed the movie, it was Gus Van Sant's, seemingly, cavalier directing attitued.
I do feel that using the same script for a remake is just a terrible idea. This would be the chance for someone to "re-tell" the story of Dorothy's first visit to Oz. I think that, done correctly, this movie could be great. "Correctly" would be a proper cast, excellent Director(NOT RAIMI), and great writing. But, honestly, I didn't really dig the original that much.

@Bryanferryfan: "Return to Oz" was a great follow-up to the(I feel) sickening upbeat, "The Wizard of Oz." But, it is not for everyone. I like it far more than "The Wizard of Oz"

@Fartman: I think you might be the only person that likes the "Psycho" reshoot, lol.
musicsuperhero1
musicsuperhero1 - 11/16/2010, 10:29 PM
ok i totally love the Back to the Future franchise, the Frighteners and Monster House....but apart from that Zemeckis hasn't done anything remotely original in how long??? and his work hasnt involved actual people in how long??? lol...i heard he's wanting to do another time-travel movie if that tells you anything...and Zemeckis had the ballz to dis a Superman reboot. hahaha
crounsa810
crounsa810 - 11/16/2010, 10:39 PM
Hey guess what!!!!!

TIN MAN COMING AT YOU......IN 3D!!!!!!


Guarantee when this failure of a movie gets made it's gonna be in 3D.
YakeTheSnake
YakeTheSnake - 11/16/2010, 10:47 PM
@musicsuperhero1: I agree that Zemeckis has balls to talk down to the idea of a "Superman Reboot." But, you fail to recognize a wonderful list of original movies that he directed: Who Framed Roger Rabbit(Characters based on the Novel, but plot was original), Death Becomes Her, What Lies Beneath(Not a great film, but original), and, of course, Cast Away

BetaRayB
BetaRayB - 11/16/2010, 11:02 PM
The movie everybody thinks is the original is actually about the 10th movie made about the Land of Oz. But doing a shot for shot remake using the same script of the CLASSIC version is a terrible idea, doomed to failure from the outset. They should just stick with the prequel that tells the story of how the Wizard came to Oz and leave it at that. Some movies just shouldn't be remade. I have no problem if they want to delve into the other stories from Oz, but doing a remake of that particular film, instead of just a new movie based on the same original source material, is a horrible idea. Same with Star Wars, Casablanca, Citizen Kane, The Godfather and a handful of others. Heck, they'd be smarter to redo 'Gone With The Wind' than this.
Boekelaar
Boekelaar - 11/17/2010, 12:40 AM
Should not be happening, that movie's timeless. It's like Citizen Kane, it holds up very well today and should just be left alone. Tin Man was pretty good and that's the closest thing to a remake that I want to see. The only time something should be rebooted is when the original is stale and doesn't translate to the modern audience. BLOODY HOLLYWOOD!!!!!

Metallklumpen
Metallklumpen - 11/17/2010, 2:22 AM
This is one dead horse that is already badly beaten. Yawn yawn yawn. Wake me up when they adapt "Cat's Cradle" or something that hasn't been rehashed and convoluted time and again.
CaptainPresley
CaptainPresley - 11/17/2010, 3:32 AM
There are fourteen Oz books by L. Frank Baum, but only two feature films ever made from them. I say new fresh adaptations of the books, like the Narnia series is long overdue. This remake idea of the classic film is insane!
JustinMSalvato
JustinMSalvato - 11/17/2010, 6:28 AM
Although the film does not need a remake, if it is a live action movie, Robert Zemeckis is an excellent choice. This will finally get him away from those pure cgi flicks that he isn't so great at. Remember his great films like:

Back to the Future?
Who Framed Roger Rabbit?
Forrest Gump?
Castaway?

As long as it's live action, he will make a great film.
TonyPaintball
TonyPaintball - 11/17/2010, 6:41 AM
This may be dumber than the too soon Spider-Man reboot. No .. wait ... it is. My God Hollywood has lost all creativity and the ability to take any chances. Remake Wizard of Oz????

Flagg
Flagg - 11/17/2010, 7:18 AM
Terrible idea. They can make as many sequels and prequels to it as they like (Return to Oz was excellent and I can't wait for Oz the Great and Powerful), but the original Wizard of Oz film should be the keystone that holds them all together. Nobody must tamper with it... ever.
Blackmatter
Blackmatter - 11/17/2010, 9:22 AM
F@#K! Why don't they just remake Star wars, Godfather, Goodfellas,E.T., Jaws, and Raider's of the Lost Arc while they're at it! What the hell are those Hollywood nimrods thinking!? Stupid idea,,,where's the originality anymore in film making? STOP IT with the remakes already people!
Timerider84
Timerider84 - 11/17/2010, 11:49 AM
If they have to make this, might I suggest Jack Nicholson as the Wizard of Oz. Jim Carrey as the Scarecrow and Will Ferrell as the Tin Man, as far as Dorothy, either Miley Cyrus or Taylor Swift. It will probably be one of them.
JackBauer
JackBauer - 11/17/2010, 3:03 PM
NNNNNNNNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!

You don't mess with a classic like this. If they have to do this make movies based on the books. Never read em but from what I understand there is enough that is different that it may not stomp on the original's legacy. My wife started reading Wicked which is a prequel book and she had to stop because it freaked her out. Sounds like it would make for a good adult oriented movie. Don't remake the original.

@tc - Tin Man was great. A completely different take that worked.

Lewis25
Lewis25 - 11/17/2010, 4:07 PM
No Miley Cyrus NO Taylor Swift NO. If it has to be done I say Anne Hathaway for Dorothy. Jack Black for Lion.
Darknights23
Darknights23 - 11/17/2010, 8:18 PM
Fu^& hollywierd!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
JYCowboy
JYCowboy - 11/17/2010, 9:53 PM
I always thought that a remake of Oz could be the American "Harry Potter" as there is a good amount of books. A straight re-telling of the '39 script is just a joke. In doing this they can make sequels of the other books in the same style. I can hear the writers wanting this so as to lead in for thier "what if?" ideas. I am truly saddened by this news.

Why not do a new story based on the original book?
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