Movies News
Downey leaving 'Oz,' Depp could step in
By Adnan Tezer Jan 20, 2011, 20:45 GMT
CATEGORY : Movies, DVD
SECTION: Reviews
LOCATION: Dallas, Texas
spent the last 5 years in Los Angeles as an
> actor/screenwriter. I gradauted with a Bachelor's in journalism from The
> University of Texas at Austin in 1999
Robert Downey Jr. has dropped out of Disney's prequel to the 1939 classic "The Wizard of Oz" called "Oz, the Great and Powerful," with Johnny Depp in talks to take over.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, the prequel tells of a circus performer who is transported through a tornado to the mysterious land of Oz, where he is mistaken for the all-knowing Wizard.
Depp would play the Wizard.
Sam Raimi is attached to direct the film with Joe Roth producing.
Disney is aiming for the "Oz" prequel to be a franchise in the wake of "Alice in Wonderland" grossing $1 billion at the worldwide box office.
The studio is looking to begin production later in the year with a 2013 release date in mind.
The question is whether Depp can fit the project in with his busy schedule.
Depp will begin shooting Tim Burton's adaptation of the 1960s cult TV series "Dark Shadows" for Warner Bros. this spring. He is also attached to star as Tonto in Disney's "The Lone Ranger," with Jerry Bruckheimer producing.
Downey also walked away from Warner Bros.' space thriller "Gravity" back in November.
