The Wizard of Ozis one of the most iconic movies of the 1930s, but that hasn’t stopped other iterations of the story of Dorothy from Kansas making their way onto TV and cinema screens. The latest person to take on the world of L Frank Baum’s Oz will be Black-ish creatorKenya Barris, who has his own vision for the story of a young girl transported to a world of magic and danger, even if he knows it will gain him a certain amount of backlash.
Speaking toVariety, Barris shared an insight into where he wants to takethe story of Dorothy, with a new setting, and a twist on the purpose of the story. With the intention of relocating Dorothy’s home to the Bottoms, an apartment complex in Inglewood, California, Barris said:
“The original ‘Wizard of Oz’ took place during the Great Depression and it was about self-reliance and what people were going through. I think this is the perfect time to switch the characters and talk about what someone imagines their life could be. It’s ultimately a hero’s journey, someone thinks something’s better than where they’re at, and they go and realize that where they’re at is where they should be. I want people to be proud and happy about where they’re from. But I want the world to take a look at it and I hope that will come through.”
One thing that is clear is that Barris is under no illusions that daring to produce a new version of the classic IP will come with a certain amount of criticism, but that isn’t about to stop him. Explaining his belief in the power of IP, Barris added:
“I’m still a believer in IP. I think I get sh-t for it sometimes but I believe that the idea of some of those great stories – stories are all told again and again and again. So having the opportunity to take some of those IPs and tell them from a different point of a view is a gift that I hopefully keep getting.”
The Snow in The Wizard of Oz Was 100% Pure Asbestos
The classic 1939 movie used asbestos in a number of ways, including using the toxic mineral as fake snow.
The Wizard of Oz Is Just Part of the Story of Dorothy
When it comes to bonafide classic pieces of cinema,The Wizard of Ozis an example of how early cinema went to great lengths to achieve the unachievable. Creating the Land of Oz from painted backdrops, fully constructed sets and some potentially dangerous make-up applications, the film continues to stand head and shoulders above its contemporary counterparts and their parade of CGI visuals.
However, the overall world of Baum’s creation is still very much untapped when it comes to his other stories of Oz, which total some 14 full-length novels set in the magical land. Although some of these have inspired other movies, such asOzma of OzandThe Wonderful Land of Oz,whichprovided the basis for the 1985 movieReturn to Oz, the Oz series very much suffers the same blinkered vision of C.S. Lewis’ Narnia saga, with focus always returning to one singular chapter of a much larger tale.
The original version ofThe Wizard of Oz, starring Judy Garland as the most iconic version of Dorothy, is currently streaming on Prime Video.
The Wizard of Oz
