Casting a New 'Oz' on the Anniversary

By Mike Hess Posted Sep 24th 2009 11:59PM

Seventy years ago this week, the film world changed forever with the release of 'The Wizard of Oz.' The classic film still stands the test of time despite its 1939 release, but since remakes are all the rage these days, it got us thinking about who would be great in different 'Oz' roles. So, we're leaving it up to you to pick who should be cast for each prominent role in the film. After the jump, our top 4 choices for each role for you to decide on!

Dorothy

Recasting one of the most iconic female roles in Hollywood history isn't easy. So, to make things a bit easier, we narrowed it down by choosing brunette actresses who we know are double-threats when it comes to singing and acting.

Our Favorite: Anne Hathaway

The Lion

When casting The Lion, we were really going for actors who not only look the part, but would also be able to produce the goofy-yet-lovable courage-less feline.

Our Favorite: Matt Damon

Tin Man

We're hoping there have been some great, less toxic advances in makeup since 1939, as the original silver stuff almost killed actor Buddy Ebsen. Here, we went with lanky, tall fellows with a funny bone.

Our Favorite: Paul 'Pee Wee' Reubens

Scarecrow

The Scarecrow role is all about being limber, boisterous and strong enough to lead the crew down the Yellow Brick Road. You've gotta have poise, charm and some serious acting chops to pull this one off.

Our Favorite: Daniel Day-Lewis (But c'mon, Quentin Tarantino would be hysterical)

The Wicked Witch

We spanned both younger and older Hollywood for this role, as it's really more attitude than looks. All of these accomplished actresses would be great on a broomstick with a flying monkey army.

Our Favorite: Meryl Streep

The Wizard

Sure, it's probably the least amount of screentime in the film, but for The Wizard, we were thinking big. A massive personality needs to be the man behind the curtain.

Our Favorite: Bill Murray

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Comments

(395)

Thursday 24 September

By skip

Vote down Vote up Report this

Beautiful choices. I would add Barbara Streisand as the Wicked Witch, Or maybe Hillaty.

By Ginny

flashman- I love it!! Politicians by nature are natural role players/actors. But who will play the man behind the curtain? GW?

By babyfacegirl

WHEN IT COMES TO FINDING LOOK ALIKES ASK ME! BRITNEY SPEARS HAS A DOROTHY FACE!! LOOK AT HER,,COLOR HER HAIR BROWN... I KNOW SHE CAN DO IT.... BRITNEY SPEARS JUST HAS THE FACE OF DOROTHY!!

By Gary

Hollywood's motto: If it ain't broke, fix it! If it's a classic, remake it!

What morons! You cannot remake the Wizard of Oz musical film because it would never be as good as the original.However,you could make an adventure film of Frank Baum's novel, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz because it has never been done. I mean a movie that is faithful to the original and in a fantasy style like the Potter, Narnia, and Ring films. And with a real little girl in the title role. Such a film would be a great success and without the songs and schtick would not be compared with the classic musical. It could also, if done right, lead to many successful sequels because Baum wrote a ton of great Oz books.
Here're my casting choices:
Dorothy: an unknown child actress
Scarecrow: Jim Carrey
Tin Man: Mike Myers
Cowardly Lion:David Allen Grier
Wizard: Robin Williams
Witch of the North:Rosie O'Donnell
Witch of the West:Madonna
Witch of the South: Amy Adams

By KC

About time they remake the Wizard of Oz, it was such a creepy movie. But they are doing it all wrong. Here are the people that they should get:
Dorothy: Anne Hathaway
The Lion: Jack Black
The Scarecrow: Owen Wilson
The Tin Man: Will Farrell
The Good Witch: Katherine Heigle
The Bad Witch: Glenn Close
The Oz: Seth Rogen

By Estella Carol Wyatt

Actually, since we are talking about remakes, I was EXTREMELY surprised at this year's remake of "The Day The Earth Stood Still" The original with Michael Renee as the iconic "Klaatu" and Patricia O'Neal as his leading lady (and of course, GORT) still thrills me to this day. The messianic clues were so clever, too. So when this new one came out, and the packaging screamed "More Action! More Crashes!" I 'knew' this would be a dog. Boy, was I in for a shock! They actually reinvented the characters and changed the plot, and it WORKED.

Usually when Hollywood reinvents a classic, it is a dog. I can't possibly see them reinventing "Oz" and not making it worse, but after seeing 'Buffy The Vampire Slayer' (which when I heard about the premise, I watched it, expecting a really laaaaaaame show,) and now the other movie, I think that Oz could possibly be redone. We are more likely to settle on Jupiter, than to see a great remake, but you never know..............

"Gort, Klaatu berada nicto."

By San

No! No! No!I am sick of Hollywood making crap remakes of great classics. With the possible exception of "Rain" they have all stunk. At least I presume they stunk because I refused to see any. Aren't there any good writers and material for something original? Now they'll have Jim Carry, who I detest, in another "Christmas Carol." Bah, humbug!

By bob116x

Remember the Wiz, a previous remake. Maybe the studio is trying to make up for it.

By mike

I thing Obama should be casted as one of the flying monkeies

By kevin quinn

Hey Mike!!!! You have to be from the deep south. Your very uneducated and a moran to make such a rascist comment. Weren't you in the movie "Deliverance"? Go screw a pig. Kevin

By fran

i think all unknowns should be cast,i have 4 daughters who are very musical

By R.A. Redmond

The Lion should be played by actor Phil Garno!
The casting director should do his homework and find this young man. He is one tarifffffic actor; perfect for the part. I believe he is in the Dallas area. (Children's Theatre)

By lai

High Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

What?! Their going to ruin a classic movie......here we go again... :(
PLease hollywood dont do this!!!

By SherBear

Anne Hathaway should not be playing dorothy she is to old for the role dorothy is suppose to be like 13 or 14 Miley would be the best for the role and she looks more like dorothy then the rest of the choices.

By Rose

I think Dorothy should be played by a lessor known actress than the choices given above, someone with the looks along the lines of Dakota Fanning. Someone with an image of being sweet and innocent and the choices above definately ain't that!! Whoever plays her does not need to have a hair color of auburn or brown they do make wigs you know.

Friday 25 September

By tradjm13

no matter how one tries in hollywood, you cant re do a great classic. and this movie the wizard of oz, if probably the greatest movie ever made, it is time less, in fact i just watched the new version in hdefinition at a theatre in monterey, cal. last night it was liek the first time i saw the film in 1956 as a teen ager. leave well enough along....

How about "High Noon" with Jim Carry as Will Cane, "The Grapes of Wrath with Jack Black as Tom Joad or "Shane" with Jennifer Anistan in Jean Arthur's part or I know lets put Tim the tool guy in "All Quiet on the western Front" You see the problem we have today is that we have celebrities not actor's. WhenI say actor's I mean both male and female. Let's see now who can play Jim Nance in "Eraserhead. Kevin

By MS MORGAN

JUST LEAVE IT ALONE (IN CASE THEY DO DECIDE TO REMAKE IT)..THERE IS NO ACTOR/ACTRESS THAT CAN DO THIS PICTURE JUSTICE EVER...SOMETHINGS ARE BETTER LEFT ALONE..

By Mo

Hollywood SUCKS!!! No one is original anymore!!! TOO many remakes!!!! Some movies are best to just be left alone!! Are writers THAT lazy? STOP with the remakes already!!!!!! I mean, once in a blue moon certain movies are fine, but they are coming out left and right, King Kong,speed racer,land of the lost, melrose place,90210,(although it is tv, still applies to lazy writers!)The list goes on! I don't go to the movies anymore. Not enough creativity! The last time I went was to see the departed with Leonardo DiCaprio. Writers, learn to flex your mind, and come up with MORE original stories!!!

Saturday 26 September

By Karl

you are a moron

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