HBO Watchmen's Nicole Kassell Will Direct An Upcoming The Wizard Of Oz Remake

The 1939 classic film The Wizard of Oz, widely considered to be one of the greatest movies of all time, will be getting the remake treatment via New Line Cinema and director Nicole Kassell (Watchmen). This is not the first time a remake or re-imagining of the 1900 children's fantasy novel The Wonderful Wizard of Oz has been attempted, and it's likely not to be the last, but Kassell's involvement via HBO's Watchmen of all things is incredibly intriguing.

According to Deadline, an extensive search for a director ended with Kassell being hired because she "acted as a meticulous world-builder in overseeing every step of the Watchmen production, setting the show's striking visual tone with no detail overlooked and weaving visual cues from the panels of the comic into the series as delicate Easter eggs for fans." In other words, the exact strengths Kassell brought to realizing DC's classic, New Line Cinema is hoping Kassell will bring to Oz.

"I am incredibly honored to… [be] bringing this beloved classic to the screen," said Kassell. "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 am eager to dance alongside these heroes of my childhood as we pave a newly minted yellow brick road!"

According to Variety, previous versions of the screenplay for this upcoming remake were written by Darren Lemke (Shrek Forever After) and the duo of Neil Widener and Gavin James (Now You See Me 3).