Celebrated “The Woodsman” director Nicole Kassell is set to direct a new film adaptation of L. Frank Baum’s “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz” at New Line.
This will be a fresh take on Baum children’s novel but, unlike some other adaptations, can draw on elements from the previous 1939 Oscar-winning film version such as the ruby slippers.
Darren Lemke, Neil Widener and Gavin James all penned previous drafts while Marty Bowen, Marc Platt and Wyck Godfrey will produce.
Kassell is a sought-after TV director of late and worked on acclaimed shows like “Watchmen,” “The Americans,” “The Leftovers,” “The Killing,” “Better Call Saul” and “Rectify”.
The news comes as visual effects and animation studio Animal Logic has also announced plans for an animated musical adaptation of Michael Morpurgo’s children’s book “Toto: The Dog-Gone Amazing Story of the Wizard of Oz”.
The project will come from Animal Logic’s Vancouver studio rather than its Sydney home base. Alex Timbers is attached to direct, from a screenplay by John August. Derek Frey will produce.
Source: THR