SDCC '12: OZ THE GREAT AND POWERFUL Panel

During the Disney panel, the Mouse House unveiled the first-ever footage from Sam Raimi's newest live-action film, Oz The Great and Powerful. The studio just sent us the teaser trailer to share with you guys, so instead of describing it in detail, I'll let you take a look for yourselves.

Interesting. I really dug how the film opens with the square black and white footage and then transitions into widescreen color. (It was similar to the way Tron: Legacy essentially copied the original Wizard of Oz film by holding off on the 3D until we got to the world of the Grid.) Franco and the rest of the cast look like they fit in with the world pretty well, but strangely enough, once the characters get to Oz it looks like this film could have been directed by Tim Burton instead of Sam Raimi. Burton's Alice in Wonderland producer Joe Roth is producing this film too, and with the super saturated, insanely bright colors coupled with a score by Burton staple Danny Elfman, I don't see much of the Raimi we know in this footage. 

Raimi, who called Comic-Con his "home away from home," was there to promote the film and of course seemed thrilled to work on the project, but I think the footage speaks louder than the director at this point in the game. (Of course, this is just a teaser and we'll see more in the months to come that will better shape our expectations.) Later, he was joined by surprise guests Mila Kunis and Michelle Williams, who both spoke briefly about their experiences inhabiting these characters and working with Raimi in this incredible world. I know for Raimi there's no place like home, but I'm a bit skeptical that this will turn into Burton Lite and Roth's influence will shine through more than Raimi's, but we'll see how it turns out in the months to come. Check out the video from the panel below, and let us know what you think in the comments!

 

 

Synopsis:

"Oz The Great and Powerful" imagines the origins of L. Frank Baum's beloved character, the Wizard of Oz. When Oscar Diggs (James Franco), a small-time circus magician with dubious ethics, is hurled away from dusty Kansas to the vibrant Land of Oz, he thinks he's hit the jackpot—fame and fortune are his for the taking—that is until he meets three witches, Theodora (Mila Kunis), Evanora (Rachel Weisz) and Glinda (Michelle Williams), who are not convinced he is the great wizard everyone's been expecting. Reluctantly drawn into the epic problems facing the Land of Oz and its inhabitants, Oscar must find out who is good and who is evil before it is too late. Putting his magical arts to use through illusion, ingenuity—and even a bit of wizardry—Oscar transforms himself not only into the great and powerful Wizard of Oz but into a better man as well.