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And it’s always good to be associated with a big project.” However, nine days into filming, Ebsen was hospitalized due to a reaction to his makeup and be replaced with another contract player, Jack Haley. Ebsen didn’t care about his particular role in the film, but he was eager to be involved with it because he “…knew it would be a very big one. After much begging and pleading to Mayer himself, Bolger switched roles with Buddy Ebsen another MGM contract player in his third year under contract with the studio. While he was enthusiastic that he was cast in the film, Bolger was more interested in paying homage to Fred Stone’s Scarecrow from the 1902 stage version of The Wizard of Oz, the very show that sparked Bolger’s interest in the theatre. Ray Bolger was initially tapped to play the role of the Tin Man, though much to his chagrin, as he felt that he felt that his style was more “fluid” and better suited to play the Scarecrow. The producers felt that a performer with a history in vaudeville would be appropriate due to the character’s personalities and add an element of comedy, which would play favorably with adult audiences. MGM turned to their arsenal of around 120 actors under contract to search for the supporting roles first, and were able to cast six of ten named roles from these reserves. The grandiose budget for the film allowed for no detail to be spared, including the use of the best cast and crew money could buy.Īs was the common belief at the time, MGM believed that the ensemble could make or break the overall success of the film. The large amount of interest served as one of the justifications for the incredible amount of $2.7 million that ended up being spent over the duration of production of The Wizard of Oz. Though there was interest from five of the major production companies for the rights to the story, Goldwyn sold the rights to Mayer for $75,000. Noticing Disney's huge success in 1937 with its first feature-film, Snow White and the Seven Dwarves, MGM felt that they would be able to have similar success in the fantasy genre. In 1933, producer Samuel Goldwyn acquired the book and screen rights for the story for $40,000. Frank Baum was a well-liked children's book in the early part of the century that had already had several popular adaptations. The story on which the film is based, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, by L. While the 1939 film with Judy Garland is perhaps the most popular, HuffPost notes that a sequel, “Return to Oz” was released in 1985 and in 2013 Walt Disney Studios produced a prequel film, “ Oz the Great and Powerful.” Additionally, “The Wiz” and “Wicked,” two musical plays based on Baum characters, have appeared on Broadway.Even before casting could take place, The Wizard of Oz proved to be a challenge in acquiring film rights for the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) studios.
#Wonderful wizard of oz tv series series#
In 2020, she was awarded a Primetime Emmy for her work on the network’s graphic superhero series “ Watchmen.”īaum’s famous characters have graced the big screen on myriad occasions over the years.
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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!”Īccording to IMDb, Kassell’s previous directing credits include the 2004 film “ The Woodsman” and 2011’s “A Little Bit of Heaven.” More recently, she has been directing episodes of prestige television for HBO. The opportunity to examine the original themes - the quest for courage, love, wisdom and home - feels more timely and urgent than ever. “While the 1939 musical is part of my DNA, I am exhilarated and humbled by the responsibility of re-imagining such a legendary tale. Kassell commented on the announcement with a written statement that said (via Variety): The site reports that Kassell’s version will be a “fresh take” on the classic story, and while it will borrow some elements from the popular 1939 film, it won’t be a musical. Frank Baum’s famous novel “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz” and Nicole Kassell is tabbed as the project’s director. The yellow brick road will be trod once again.Īccording to The Associated Press, New Line Cinema is developing a new feature adaptation of L.