It’s over two years since it was announced that Spawn creator Todd McFarlane was working on a darker, more action packed version of The Wizard Of Oz. However despite a lot of fanboy interest, since then the film pretty much seemed to have disappeared. Now it seems that the project isn’t as dead as many suspected, as The Express newspaper is reporting that Dakota Fanning is being lined up to play the lead role in the movie.
While we wouldn’t be surprised if it turns out the Fanning rumours are false – after all, it’s compulsory for her to be linked to every film with a role for someone that age at some point – but at least it shows that the film is alive and well, and according the The Express, could start filming in the UK next year.
While tipped as a darker version of Oz, the producers have previously said they’re going for a Harry Potter style-dark, rather than anything truly gruesome (although let’s hope it doesn’t feature Return To Oz’s wheelers, as they totally freaked me out as a kid), and indeed it seems that it’s the upcoming availability of the people who worked on the Harry Potter films, which is making Warner want to shoot the movie in Britain. The film is said to be set in the present day, with Dorothy’s granddaughter heading off to a creepier Oz.
In other Todd McFarlane related news, he’s updated his Twitter feed to say that “I’ve officially begun writing the SPAWN MOVIE screenplay. The story has been in my head for 7 or 8 years. Will continue to update.” He also added that “The movie idea is neither a recap or continuation. It is a stand alone story that will be R-rated. Creepy and scary… The tone of this SPAWN movie will be for a more older audience. Like the film DEPARTED.”
While few would equate the demonic world of Spawn with The Departed, before McFarlane got the official go–ahead to write another Spawn film, he was already talking up the project, and said he had Leonardo DiCaprio in mind for the film. It’ll never happen, but maybe he’s still hoping.