New Line and ‘Watchmen’ Director, Nicole Kassell Team up for ‘Wizard of Oz’ Remake.

New Line Cinema has announced that a remake of the Wizard of Oz is in the works. Director, Nicole Kassell (Watchmen) will be directing the remake. Previous drafts of the script were written by Darren Lemke and the pair of Neil Widener and Gavin James.

Wizard of Oz is the adaptation of L. Frank Baum’s book, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. The book has been adapted on various platforms over the years. The most popular of these adaptations is the 1939 musical starring Judy Garland and directed by Victor Fleming.

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New Line has stated that they would approach the remake with a “fresh take” on Dorothy and the Land of Oz, but they can “draw on other elements” from Garland’s Wizard of Oz.

The would-be director, Nicole Kassell, said, “I am incredibly honoured to join Temple Hill and New Line in bringing this beloved classic to the screen. While the 1939 musical is part of my DNA, I am exhilarated and humbled by the responsibility of re-imagining such a legendary tale. The opportunity to examine the original themes—the quest for courage, love, wisdom and home—feels more timely and urgent than ever. These are profoundly iconic shoes to fill, and I’m eager to dance alongside these heroes of my childhood as we pave a newly minted yellow brick road!”