UNITED KINGDOM: Stars of the Wizard of Oz prequel turn out for the European launch of "Oz the Great and Powerful"

Record ID: 221019

  • Title: UNITED KINGDOM: Stars of the Wizard of Oz prequel turn out for the European launch of "Oz the Great and Powerful"
  • Date: 28th February 2013
  • Summary: LONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM (FEBRUARY 28, 2013) (REUTERS) JAMES FRANCO TALKS TO REPORTERS (SOUNDBITE) (English) ACTOR JAMES FRANCO, SAYING: "Because this character is not Dorothy, he's not innocent, his experience in Oz would be completely different so he'd almost be bumbling through Oz because everyone thinks he's a real wizard but he's not so in some cases he has to
  • Embargoed: 15th March 2013 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: United Kingdom
  • Country: United Kingdom
  • Topics: Entertainment
  • Reuters ID: LVA5AVMSF9IY9O7G5XRFOY3SUY6F
  • Story Text: The prequel to the classic "The Wizard of Oz," "Oz the Great and Powerful" held its European premiere on Thursday (Feb. 28) in London with all three witches - Michelle Williams, Rachel Weisz, and Mila Kunis - and of course the wizard himself, James Franco, in attendance.
    The film, which follows how the wizard came to reside in the land of Oz, is directed by Sam Raimi of Evil Dead and Spider-man fame, and cost Walt Disney Studios $200,000,000 (US dollars) to produce.
    James Franco has shied away from studio films recently, staying firmly in arthouse cinema, but this sees him return as the central character. When asked how he convinced himself to make a return to big budget movies, he told Reuters, " "There were really three things that made me want to do the film. First, that it was going to be directed by Sam Raimi, my old friend, who directed the Spider-Man films. I've been a huge fan of Oz since I was a boy - I've read all the L. Frank Baum books and then I loved the way the character was written. He was a flawed character and a comedic character in the middle of an epic film and I thought that situation was unusual."
    Rachel Weisz who plays Evanora, was reported to have fought hard for her role as the witch who is keeping power in Emerald City until the prophesied wizard arrives. Not put off by Sam Raimi telling her agent she wasn't right for the role, she pushed for an audition. "I've been doing more serious drama type things and I just thought it would be fun." she said on the green carped. "And the fact that Sam Raimi thought I wasn't right for it it was like a bull to a rag - is that the expression? - a rag to a bull. It made me really want to go and get it so I read for him and then I got the part."
    Weisz was recently reported in the press at being annoyed that people still don't know how to pronounce her surname. "In London everyone says my name right but in America Rachel Wheeze, Wize, Wooze, it makes sense because it's a 'W'" she said, "It makes sense but I said to Mila it's like her being called Mila Kunnis."
    Mila Kunis plays Weisz' sister in the movie, another witch called Theodora. Spoilers have leaked into the press and on websites about which of the two sisters would turn into the iconic cackling long-chinned green-skinned Wicked Witch of the West. Kunis said at the premiere in reaction to the spoilers that "Listen, to each their own, but why ruin the fun for everyone else? I'm not going to say anything - do what you're going to do. But why spoil the fun? It's a great fun family movie, yeah."
    Robert Downey Jr. and Johnny Depp were both offered the role of Oz but it finally went to James Franco and for director Sam Raimi he couldn't be happier. "He's a real collaborator, I think that's the most defining thing about James." he told Reuters during the event. "He wants to hear everyone's ideas and wants to synthesise and wants to make the best out of everyone's suggestions along with his own input."
    "Oz the Great and Powerful" goes on release nearly everywhere worldwide in early March.
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