Despite decidedly mixed reviews, Disney’s big-budget “Oz: The Great and Powerful” is tracking to open at $ 80-90 million this weekend in the United States.
The studio is obviously confident enough as they are already moving forward with a sequel. The studio has hired Mitchell Kapner (“The Whole Nine Yards,” “Romeo Must Die”) to write a script which would continue the adventures of James Franco’s Oscar ‘Oz’ Diggs character.
Kapner came up with the concept, ideas and initial drafts for this origin story of ‘The Wizard’ character from the classic L. Frank Baum books. David Lindsay-Abaire came onboard to work on later drafts.
The film itself leaves open plenty of room between its end and the start of “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz” when Dorothy’s house crushes the Wicked Witch of the East.
Joe Roth is expected to return as producer.
Source: Variety