Christopher Lloyd Is the Wizard of Oz

At least in the upcoming film/TV pilot titled The Witches of Oz 3D. An old article on Monsters and Critics describes the movie as:

a fantasy/comedy that follows the exploits of Dorothy Gale, now a successful children's book author, as she moves from Kansas to New York City.

Dorothy quickly realizes that the dreams on which she based her books were actually childhood memories, and that the wonders of Oz are very, very real. When the Wicked Witch of the West appears in Times Square, Dorothy must find inner courage to stop her.

It also reveals that this is probably the most elaborate Oz movie ever shot for the most part in Connecticut.

Director Leigh Scott explains the genesis of the project in a Cinema-Crazed interview:

About four years ago everybody in Hollywood was buying up these lame “tween” books looking for the next Harry Potter. At about the same time I was charged with finding public domain stuff at the Asylum [a studio that specialized in quickly making cheap movies that sounded an awful lot like others about to get big marketing budgets]. When I discovered that the Wizard of Oz was available, I pitched it to them. They were afraid of it because it was such a well known property and at the time horror stuff was still the rage. Plus, it just sounds expensive, and now having done it, they were right! . . .

The books are really weird. They’re written for little kids, but the concepts and ideas are really adult and creepy. As for the movies, I think RETURN TO OZ is pretty underrated. Every film about Oz has to live in the shadow of the 1939 film which isn't just the definitive Oz movie, it’s one of the most iconic films in history. We decided, unlike the 1985 Oz film, to incorporate the musical into our film through subtle references and a few bigger elements of the production design, creature design, wardrobe etc.

Because, I suspect, one doesn’t have to pay to use “subtle references.”

Tom Angleberger just interviewed Barry Ratcliffe, who plays the Cowardly Lion, for Geek Dad. Naturally they talked about…Christopher Lloyd as the Wizard:

Q: I think a lot of geeks — and a lot of other folks — will be interested as soon as they hear the words: “Christopher Lloyd as the Wizard of Oz.” Is that going to be as awesome as it sounds?

A: It is going to be more awesome. I sent him a note, letting him know the fans where excited, and about our interview. He is an incredible actor as you know, and he brings every bit of passion, zaniness, fun, and quirkiness to the role you would expect. Are any of those words?

Not much more to learn there, aside from the fact that the shooting involved special effects and makeup—Ratcliffe does his job of keeping the movie’s secrets. One of which is apparently still the release date.