Oz the Great and Powerful
In Oz, nothing is what it seems.
Country
Production
Budget
$215 000 000
Box office
$493 311 825
Director
Actors
Scenario
Producer
Joe Roth, Philip Steuer, Grant Curtis, Joshua Donen, Palak Patel
Camera operator
Composer
Artist
Robert Stromberg, Daniele Zannone, Mike Dharney
Audition
Editing
Bob Murawski
Whole Team (172)
Whole Team (172)
Short description
Oscar Diggs, a small-time circus illusionist and con-artist, is whisked from Kansas to the Land of Oz where the inhabitants assume he's the great wizard of prophecy, there to save Oz from the clutches of evil.
What's left behind the scenes
- This is the second Oz film from Disney. The first was 'Return to Oz' (1985).
- Before Sam Raimi took over the project, Sam Mendes and Adam Shankman were considered for the director's position.
- John C. Reilly was considered for the role of Frank.
- James Franco appears on screen throughout the film in the same three-piece suit that Oz flew away in from Kansas. However, this suit was impeccably made. Costume designer Gary Jones carefully studied the specifics of fashion from 1880-1930. Then, the costumer met with Franco in New York and showed the actor old photographs featuring costumes from that era. Jones and Franco agreed on the final version of Oz’s costume – a strict black suit.
- The film's fantastic world was created by Oscar-winning production designer Robert Stromberg. In total, he constructed sets for 24 locations where the film's action unfolds. Including several interiors that the designer also worked on, there are 30 works in total. Thanks to Stromberg's efforts, objects familiar to everyone since childhood, such as the Yellow Brick Road and the Emerald City, appeared on screen. Additionally, less recognizable but equally colorful locations were built: the Witches' Throne Room; the Whimsical Forest, where Oz meets Theodora; the Dark Forest, where viewers first see the good witch Glinda; and the China City, all of whose inhabitants are made of porcelain.
- The film's fantastical world was created by Oscar-winning production designer Robert Stromberg. He constructed sets for a total of 24 locations where the film's action unfolds. Including some interiors he also worked on, this amounts to 30 sets. Thanks to Stromberg, familiar objects from childhood appeared on screen, such as the Yellow Brick Road and the Emerald City. In addition, less recognizable but no less colorful locations were built: the Witches' Throne Room; the Whimsical Forest, where Oz meets Theodora; the Dark Forest, where viewers first see the good witch Glinda; and the Porcelain City, all of whose inhabitants are made of porcelain.
- James Franco, who plays the role of Oscar Diggs (also known as Oz), had to learn several magic tricks. This was the only way he could get into the character of the modest magician from a traveling circus. The actor's work on the set began two weeks before the official start of filming – that's how long it took Las Vegas magician Lance Burton to teach Franco his craft. The actor worked every day and mastered tricks with doves and fire. In addition, he learned to pull various objects out of a hat and make things levitate.
- Throughout the entire movie, James Franco appears on screen in the same three-piece suit that Oz wore when he flew away from Kansas. However, this suit was crafted to perfection. Costume designer Gary Jones carefully studied the specifics of fashion from 1880 to 1930. The costume designer then met with Franco in New York and showed the actor old photographs depicting the attire of that era. Jones and Franco agreed on the final version of Oz's costume—a formal black suit.
- Sam Raimi initially envisioned either Hilary Swank or Michelle Williams in the role of Evanora. Later, when Rachel Weisz read the script, she simply fell in love with the character of Evanora, but neither the studio nor Raimi imagined her in the role. Weisz auditioned, followed by a two-hour conversation with Raimi, and ultimately landed the part. Williams, meanwhile, passed on the role of Glinda.
- Costume designer Gary Jones and his team prepared wardrobes for more than 1500 actors, from the Munchkins to the giants of the Migons. This titanic task took the costume designers over 23 weeks. More than 200 costumes were prepared for the main characters (Oz, Theodora, Glinda, and Evanora) alone.
- Negotiations were held with Christoph Waltz regarding a role in this film.
- The witches' costumes were created by German designer Michael Kutsche, ensuring they matched the overall vision of production designer Robert Stromberg. Kutsche worked on the witches' wardrobes together with his colleague Gary Jones.
- Before Sam Raimi took over the project, Sam Mendes and Adam Shankman were considered as directors for this film.
- Olivia Wilde, Amy Adams, Blake Lively, Kate Beckinsale, Keira Knightley, and Rebecca Hall were considered for the roles of the witches.
- Blake Lively was offered the role of Glinda but turned it down in favor of Oliver Stone's "Savages" (2012).
- The phrase spoken by James Franco's character, "You were there for me when any other sensible ape would have run away," is a reference to the actor's other film, "Rise of the Planet of the Apes" (2011).
- This film helped to mend the working relationship between Sam Raimi and Danny Elfman after their falling out during post-production of "Spider-Man 2" (2004).
- The film used more than 3000 props, 1400 of which were handmade specifically for the film. This number does not include the 5000 coins that prop master Russell Bobbitt made specifically for Oz's treasure chest. One side of each of these coins depicts the Yellow Brick Road, and the other – a profile of writer L. Frank Baum.
- At the beginning of the film, Oz works with "Baum's Brothers Circus." This is a nod to a "Easter egg" story by L. Frank Baum, the author of the Oz book series.
- At the beginning of the film, Oz works with the 'Baum Brothers Circus.' This is a nod to the story 'The Easter Egg' by L. Frank Baum, the author of the Oz book series.
- Robert Downey Jr. and Johnny Depp were considered for the role of Oz.
- James Franco, who plays the role of Oscar Diggs (also known as Oz), had to learn several magic tricks. This was the only way he could embody the persona of a humble magician from a traveling circus. The actor's work on set began two weeks before official filming started—which is exactly how long it took Las Vegas magician Lance Burton to train Franco in his craft. The actor worked every day and mastered tricks involving pigeons and fire. Additionally, he learned how to pull various objects from a top hat and make things levitate.
- The line spoken by James Franco's character, "You stayed by my side when any other sentient ape would have run away," is a reference to the actor's other film, "Rise of the Planet of the Apes" (2011).
- Blake Lively was offered the role of Glinda, but she turned it down in favor of Oliver Stone's 'Savages' (2012).
- This is the second Oz film from Disney. The first was "Return to Oz" (1985).
- The film's main character is one of the most famous wizards in the world. Frank Baum introduced him to readers worldwide in his book "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz." From 1900 to 1920, Baum wrote 14 books set in the fictional world. However, none of them ever told the story of the all-powerful wizard's past. The film is a kind of cinematic prologue to the events described in the first book about the Land of Oz, and will tell the backstory of that very wizard. Most of the characters have moved directly from Baum's books to the screen. However, there will also be many new characters that viewers have never seen before, such as the Porcelain Doll and the Quadlings.
- This film helped mend the working relationship between Sam Raimi and Danny Elfman after their falling out during the post-production of 'Spider-Man 2' (2004).
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Auditions in India
Casting calls in USA
Castingi w Polsce
Кастинги в Україні
