Walt Disney Pictures has recently confirmed that both actors are tapped to play in the prequel of 'The Wizard of Oz', which will be directed by Paul W.S. Anderson.
- March 26, 2011
AceShowbiz -
James Franco and Mila Kunis have officially become parts of "Oz, the Great and Powerful". Walt Disney Pictures has recently confirmed to Coming Soon that both stars are set to play the titular character and Theodora respectively.
In the forthcoming movie, Franco plays a fast-talking person who works as a snake oil salesman and illusionist. He runs away from a traveling circus and is blown in a hot air balloon by a tornado to Oz, where he has to fight against magic and the sisters battling for control of the land.
Theodora, the youngest sister of three witches, is a good witch, along with her sister Glinda. However, she later turns into a bad person and join forces with her evil sisters after Franco's character rejects her sexual advances.
Franco was offered the lead role after Robert Downey Jr. and Johnny Depp passed on it. The 32-year-old actor has starred in "127 Hours" and will be next seen in "Rise of the Apes". He will also possibly shoot "While We're Young" before playing in "Oz, the Great and Powerful".
In the meantime, Kunis recently starred as Lily in "Black Swan" and will be seen in "Friends with Benefits". She has previously worked with Franco in 2007's "The Hills" and 2010's comedy "Date Night". She is set to play in "Ted" opposite Mark Wahlberg.
"Oz, the Great and Powerful" is based on the 1939 book "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz" by L. Frank Baum. Directed by Sam Raimi, the upcoming film has "Rabbit Hole" screenwriter David Lindsay-Abaire pen the script. Joe Roth ("Alice in Wonderland") will serve as the producer. Other names suggested to join the movie, which is intended to be a prequel of "The Wizard of Oz", include Olivia Wilde, Amy Adams, Kate Beckinsale, Keira Knightley and Rebecca Hall.
