For the last couple of months it seemed it was all set for Sam Raimi to direct Robert Downey Jr. in Oz, The Great And Powerful for Disney. However now THR has revealed that Downey Jr. has left the project. The publication doesn’t give a reason for Downey’s departure, but it’s likely scheduling and a shift of priorities were behind it.
The actor is already busy with Shelock Holmes movies, as well as The Avengers and the planned Iron Man 3. He’s also recently set up a production company with the hope of directing a movie, something he probably wouldn’t have time for at least in the next 18 months if he made Oz.
So who will replace him? Well Disney knows who they want and are already deep in dicussions with Johnny Depp about taking on the role of the illusionist who ends up in a runaway balloon that takes him to Oz. He finds the strange land is run by two magical wicked witches, who he ends up taking on, even though his tricks are nothing but smoke and mirrors.
But will Depp have time to make the flick though? With Dark Shadows shooting soon and promotion for Pirates 4 this summer, he’s already a busy man. He’s also attached to Disney’s Lone Ranger, which it’s believed they want to shoot later this year. It’s also said the House Of Mouse are hoping to get him to film two more Pirates flick next year.
With plans to shoot Oz in the second half of this year, it’s likely that Depp taking the role would force him to drop out of Lone Ranger, or the entire project would get pushed back. As Lone Ranger has already been delayed a couple of times to slot in projects Depp and Disney have put ahead of it (there are also reports that it’s been difficult to get the tone right for the modern age), it’s uncertain whether the other talent involved, including director Gore Verbinski, will be prepared to hang around and wait while Oz gets made.
However with Disney extremely keen on Oz, expect an announcement soon, whether Depp take the role or not.