New Line Cinema is teaming up with Emmy Award winning filmmaker Nicole Kassell (“Watchmen”) for a remake of “The Wizard of Oz.” Kassell will direct, but there’s no cast yet, no script to speak of, and no word on a production timeline. What there is, though, is intention, not only to make a fresh adaptation of L. Frank Baum’s book, “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz” but to make it memorable and distinct from the classic 1939 film that starred a 17-year-old Judy Garland in one of the most indelible performances of her career. Should this be done? Can it be done? Tough questions, really, especially when you’re talking about a film that made cinema history, routinely winds up on “all time best” lists, and has shaped queer culture over the 20th century, as well. There’s obviously no choice but to be a little skeptical. But still, it can’t really hurt to try, right? We are willing to believe because we live in hope for good things, so watch this space for updates.
