# Remake THE WIZARD OF OZ using contemporary FX & actors **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 19, 2011, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remake-the-wizard-of-oz-using-contemporary-fx-actors/606755 "2011-12-19T17:50:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2011, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remake-the-wizard-of-oz-using-contemporary-fx-actors/606755/61 "2011-12-22T22:37:37Z")
> [@Steophan](#): > > Burton and Tarantino are probably the only directors capable of doing a live-action version from a purely visual perspective Tarantino, really? What about Guillermo del Toro? Or Henry Selick? Or Terry Gilliam? ---
**Author:** ![Steophan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steophan/32/9595_2.png) [@Steophan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steophan)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2011, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remake-the-wizard-of-oz-using-contemporary-fx-actors/606755/62 "2011-12-22T22:48:55Z")
> [@GuanoLad](#): > > Tarantino, really? What about Guillermo del Toro? Or Henry Selick? Or Terry Gilliam? Tarantino definitely. I don’t think there’s a director as visually exciting working right now, at least not at their peak. Del Toro comes close though, but he’s yet to direct interesting characters in English. A Spanish Oz with the girl from Pan’s Labyrinth as Dorothy would be interesting though! ---
**Author:** ![Farmer\_Jane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Farmer\_Jane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Farmer_Jane)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2011, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remake-the-wizard-of-oz-using-contemporary-fx-actors/606755/63 "2011-12-22T22:52:02Z")
\ Remake? You’re going to Hell! ---
**Author:** ![Steophan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steophan/32/9595_2.png) [@Steophan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steophan)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2011, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remake-the-wizard-of-oz-using-contemporary-fx-actors/606755/64 "2011-12-22T23:02:15Z")
> [@CitizenPained](#): > > \ Remake? You’re going to Hell! You do realise the 1939 version was the 3rd film version? By your argument all the people involved in that would be Satan’s kebabs right now. ---
**Author:** ![Ranchoth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranchoth/32/1066_2.png) [@Ranchoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranchoth)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2011, 12:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remake-the-wizard-of-oz-using-contemporary-fx-actors/606755/65 "2011-12-23T12:10:09Z")
> [@Steophan](#): > > The only director to manage all three recently is Christopher Nolan, and I can’t see The Dark Oz Rises working too well. [Bloodstained Oz](http://www.amazon.com/Bloodstained-Oz-Christopher-Golden/dp/0976633965) might be interesting, though… ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2011, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remake-the-wizard-of-oz-using-contemporary-fx-actors/606755/66 "2011-12-23T14:27:22Z")
> [@digs](#): > > But… > _“Not everyone in New York/ > would pay to see Andrew Lloyd-Webber…”_ > > – Neil Finn (Crowded House: “Chocolate Cake”) > (Great lyrics from a Kiwi: “And the excess of fat on your American bones / will cushion the impact as you sink like a stone.”) Supposedly, when Andrew asked Trevor Nunn to direct CATS, he replied “You know, this might not be a good idea. Half of the people in the world don’t even like cats.” Andrew supposedly replied “I can live with only the other half coming to see the show.” ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2011, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remake-the-wizard-of-oz-using-contemporary-fx-actors/606755/67 "2011-12-23T16:37:07Z")
> [@CitizenPained](#): > > \ Remake? You’re going to Hell! Well, yes. But for other reasons. Anyway, Evil Industries is only financing this as part of our mandate to make the world worse. Besides, as I’ve told y’all before, _The Wiz_ is by far the best version. ---
**Author:** ![blueyejan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/f9ae1b/32.png) [@blueyejan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blueyejan)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2011, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remake-the-wizard-of-oz-using-contemporary-fx-actors/606755/68 "2011-12-27T01:26:56Z")
How about Zooey DeChanel? ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2011, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remake-the-wizard-of-oz-using-contemporary-fx-actors/606755/69 "2011-12-27T01:57:50Z")
> [@blueyejan](#): > > How about Zooey DeChanel? [Already been done.](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0910812/) ---
**Author:** ![blueyejan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/f9ae1b/32.png) [@blueyejan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blueyejan)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2011, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remake-the-wizard-of-oz-using-contemporary-fx-actors/606755/70 "2011-12-27T15:32:44Z")
Oh yeah, guess that’s where I got the idea, thanks for reminding me ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2011, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remake-the-wizard-of-oz-using-contemporary-fx-actors/606755/71 "2011-12-27T15:42:06Z")
> [@blueyejan](#): > > How about Zooey DeChanel? Been done. Not doing it again. Anyway, the correct answer to who should play Dorothy is obviously Adele. if she is not available, Duffy. If she is not available, the clone of Judy Garland I keep in my cold storage for emergencies. ---
**Author:** ![BrotherCadfael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@BrotherCadfael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrotherCadfael)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2011, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remake-the-wizard-of-oz-using-contemporary-fx-actors/606755/72 "2011-12-27T20:55:48Z")
> [@MOIDALIZE](#): > > Glenda, the chain-smoking, skanky Good Witch. Awesome. Glen or Glenda? The Ed Wood version… I think you meant Glinda. ---
**Author:** ![infinitii](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e8c25b/32.png) [@infinitii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/infinitii)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2011, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remake-the-wizard-of-oz-using-contemporary-fx-actors/606755/73 "2011-12-27T21:05:12Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > Been done. Not doing it again. Anyway, the correct answer to who should play Dorothy is obviously Adele. if she is not available, Duffy. If she is not available, the clone of Judy Garland I keep in my cold storage for emergencies. Actually, Lucy Hale is the only person (right now) that makes sense to be Dorothy. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2011, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remake-the-wizard-of-oz-using-contemporary-fx-actors/606755/74 "2011-12-27T21:09:34Z")
> [@infinitii](#): > > Actually, Lucy Hale is the only person (right now) that makes sense to be Dorothy. Never heard of her. Therefore by RhymerRule something-or-other she does not exist. ---
**Author:** ![ewing1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e8c25b/32.png) [@ewing1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ewing1)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2011, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remake-the-wizard-of-oz-using-contemporary-fx-actors/606755/75 "2011-12-28T21:23:47Z")
I’m taking the successful path followed by the big-budget disaster movies of the '70s – cram the damn thing full of well-known names and let them overact their little hearts out. Therefore, the director must be Roland Emmerich. Special effects by ILM, of course. Cast: Auntie Em – Sally Field Uncle Henry – Harrison Ford Dorothy – Adele (substitute Beyonce if Adele’s not available) Glinda, the Good Witch – Anne Hathaway The Wicked Witch of the West – Meryl Streep The Wicked Witch of the East – any one of the four “Sex in the City” stars. Which one is not important, as all you’ll see of her is her Manolos or Jimmy Choos. Scarecrow – Hugh Jackman Cowardly Lion – Johnny Depp (substitute Antonio Banderas if Tim Burton won’t let Depp out of his contract) Tin Man – Jake Gyllenhaal The Wizard of Oz – Whoopi Goldberg The Munchkins – Elijah Wood, Charlene Tilton, Chris Colfer, Lea Michele, Minnie Driver, Verne Troyer, Davy Jones, Rick Moranis (replicate this group, or resuscitate their careers, using CGI as needed) Toto – Benji ---
**Author:** ![StGermain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stgermain/32/2868_2.png) [@StGermain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StGermain)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2011, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remake-the-wizard-of-oz-using-contemporary-fx-actors/606755/76 "2011-12-28T22:04:57Z")
A child should play Dorothy. I’m thinking that freakish Jackie Evancho. And Andy Sirkis should play all of the flying monkeys. StG ---
**Author:** ![ewing1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e8c25b/32.png) [@ewing1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ewing1)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2011, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remake-the-wizard-of-oz-using-contemporary-fx-actors/606755/77 "2011-12-29T04:01:23Z")
> [@StGermain](#): > > A child should play Dorothy. I’m thinking that freakish Jackie Evancho. And Andy Sirkis should play all of the flying monkeys. > > StG Andy’s talents would certainly be welcome in my version, but I think Danny DeVito, Rhea Pearlman, and Nancy Davis Reagan would be more appropriate as the flying monkeys. That is, if I can’t have CGI resurrections of Herve Villachaize and Gary Coleman – although Empress Nancy would still be my first pick! ---
**Author:** ![Imago](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/85e7bf/32.png) [@Imago](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Imago)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2012, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remake-the-wizard-of-oz-using-contemporary-fx-actors/606755/78 "2012-03-24T18:07:51Z")
My knowledge of current living directors, actresses, etc is way too limited to do a full cast, but I strongly advocate Bradley James as the lion, Matthew Gray Gubler as the Tin Woodsman. Going for the right balance between spoofy and appropriate. > [@MOIDALIZE](#): > > Dane Cook as the Tin Woodsman. A little piece of me just died. ---
**Author:** ![Batsinma\_Belfry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ea5d25/32.png) [@Batsinma\_Belfry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Batsinma_Belfry)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2012, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remake-the-wizard-of-oz-using-contemporary-fx-actors/606755/79 "2012-03-24T18:34:44Z")
> [@Chef\_Troy](#): > > Can we use songs from _Wicked_? > > Cast: > Aunt Em: Judi Dench > Uncle Henry: Sam Elliott > Dorothy: Unknown chosen after a nationwide cattle-call audition > Glinda: Kristin Chenoweth > Munchkins: All played by Andy Serkis via motion-capture, multiplied and sex-shifted as necessary > The Wicked Witch: Sara Jessica Parker > The Scarecrow: Jeff Goldblum > The Tin Man: Keanu Reeves (hey, it’s a short step from wooden acting to metallic acting) > The Cowardly Lion: Me (trust me, I can carry it off.) > The Wizard of Oz: The computerized avatar of Steve Jobs This is perfect except… Dorothy: Anne Hathaway Cowardly Lion: [Kris Holden-Reid](http://www.imdb.com/media/rm431591936/nm0390285) ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2012, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remake-the-wizard-of-oz-using-contemporary-fx-actors/606755/80 "2012-03-24T18:45:32Z")
_3) Though you must adhere to the same basic story and motivations, you may, if you wish, alter things so that Oz is a real place rather than Dorothy’s fever dream._ Dammit, Oz _ **was** _ real, if you read the books. Dorothy eventually went back there to stay. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remake-the-wizard-of-oz-using-contemporary-fx-actors/606755.md?page=3)