For most people in their youth, there was always a go-to movie that they still remember fondly to this day. Toy Story was particularly popular with some depending on what decade you grew up in, while others might have endlessly watched classic cartoon movies such as Batman. One creation that can also be identified by many is The Wizard of Oz, a classic 1939 musical starring the legendary Judy Garland. Well, according to numerous reports, there is a remake of the yellow brick road-themed movie coming and fans are incredibly excited about it.
Such is the impact of The Wizard of Oz that global audiences will be rushing to see Nicole Kassell’s version of it, a director behind the likes of Watchmen and A Little Bit of Heaven. An adaptation of L. Frank Baum’s beloved book “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz”, the movie has an enduring appeal that is still incredibly prominent in today’s world, with merchandise selling, books being read, and even a Microgaming slot themed on Wizard of Oz. Whether or not the remake will have the same impact remains to be seen, but fans of the classic tale are certainly intrigued at what a modern-day version of the movie will look like.
The movie, which is currently in the works at the world-famous New Line Cinema, is expected to be a fresher and more up-to-date take on Dorothy and the Land of Oz, with various elements from the old version being adapted to fit into a more modern setting. There have been doubts as to whether Nicole Kassell can pull off such a huge responsibility, but she is clearly a talented director, winning an Emmy and a DGA award for HBO’s Watchmen, and a creative mind who is more than capable of giving a truly iconic production a modern makeover.
Speaking on being in charge of bringing such a memorable movie back to life, Nicole Kassell said: “I am incredibly honoured to join Temple Hill and New Line in bringing this beloved classic to the screen. The opportunity to examine the original themes — the quest for courage, love, wisdom and home — feels more timely and urgent than ever. 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!”
Kassell is a director with a big task on her hands, that’s for sure, but she is also a director who has certainly tried her hand in numerous roles and has worked her way up through the movie-making ranks, earning a solid reputation in the process. For example, The Woodsman, which was her first feature, was well received in 2004 at Sundance Film Festival. She also received numerous plaudits for her work on the likes of The Leftovers, Vinyl, and Claws, and is a name on the lips of many people in the know in the industry.
For now, though, fans of the magical story need to wait and see what Kassell and the yet to be revealed cast of actors can conjure up. Studios certainly love to remake classic movies and pounce on the nostalgia surrounding so many past productions, but whether or not this particular tale needs a modern-day facelift is unknown. Ultimately, the proof is in the pudding with this latest remake, but it certainly hasn’t stopped fans of the original movie from getting extremely excited.
Whether you saw the old version or not, the remake of The Wizard of Oz will be unmissable, especially once the undoubted hype surrounding it kicks in further.
Jason Holbrook says: 
