EXCLUSIVE: Dorothy’s definitely not in Kansas anymore, and this time, there may be no going home.
As is the tradition these days, Frank L. Baum’s kids classic Wizard Of Oz is getting a dark, low-budget reimagining in the shape of Wicked Of Oz.
Directed by Aaron Mirtes and written by Mirtes with Nathan Illsley, based on a screenplay by James Cullen Bressack and Scotty Mullen, the film traps Dorothy Gale in a savage land where she faces a blood-drenched death everywhere she turns.
A freak tornado pulls Dorothy into the wicked world of Oz just in time for the down-on-her-luck Kansas farm girl to confront Glinda, a starving cannibal who finds herself all out of Munchkin meat. Things go down from there, as Dorothy goes head-to-head (literally) against a skull-cracking Scarecrow, a Tin Man whose hobby is to collect still-beating hearts and a Cowardly Lion who pleases his master by ripping apart anyone he sees. Oz becomes Ooze as Dorothy – armed with scavenged weapons – battles her way through hordes of psychotic enemies until she finally happens upon her ultimate nemesis, the Wicked Of Oz. Above and below are first-look images.
Producers are Tom Malloy and Niccolo Messina, CEO of indie film studio Insurgence. The film is in post and is aiming for a November 2025 release. Distribution has not yet been revealed.
Pic stars Kenzie Wynne as Dorothy Gale, Chelsey Fuller as Glinda, Patrick Sharn as The Wizard, Destinee Monét as Toto, Zach Lazar Hoffman as The Cowardly Lion, Brad Belemjian as The Scarecrow, and Carson Butcher as The Tin Man.
“The creative team behind The Wicked Of Oz, genre veterans James Cullen Bressack, Scotty Mullen, Tom Malloy and Aaron Mirtes, combine credits that span everything from Mel Gibson action thrillers to Sharknado. Together with our wickedly talented cast, the film offers no songs, no rainbows – just blood and bodies piling high onto the Oz sky. Its ferocious fun for every fan of gore,” said Messina.
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