Each filmmaker has a dream challenge they sometime hope to make, and for Justin Simien, it’s a stunning selection. Throughout the Administrators on Directing panel finally week’s San Diego Comedian-Con, the director revealed that it’s his ambition to in the future make a remake of The Wiz: the 1978 Sidney Lumet movie that was itself a remake of The Wizard Of Oz starring Diana Ross, Michael Jackson, and Nipsey Russell. He mentioned on stage that it was the primary film he noticed and he needs to convey his personal model to the massive display screen, and he additional defined why that’s after I sat down with him for an interview later that afternoon.
Inquisitive about his ardour for The Wiz, I requested about it as my first query to the Haunted Mansion director – questioning why he would wish to remake a film that he cherishes so deeply. He informed me that whereas it’s a movie that he loves and has deeply impressed his work, he additionally acknowledges that it’s not precisely an ideal cinematic expertise and one which has remained flawless in his eyes from childhood to maturity. Stated Simien,
Oh my God. Truthfully, with The Wiz, I do not know the place to start out. You may actually hint quite a lot of the issues that I’m enthusiastic about in my very own movies to The Wiz. I do know it does not essentially age nicely . It is not a type of motion pictures that each time I see it, the older I get, the extra I adore it. It is a misfire in some fairly clear methods. However the thought of a black centric fantasy universe the place there are people who find themselves lions and half robots, and so they all dwell in a metropolis that appears to have its personal political strife and drug issues. It’s such a cool, bizarre model of New York Metropolis.
Primarily based on the stage musical of the identical title by Charlie Smalls by William F. Brown, The Wiz strikes the Kansas-set story of the unique L. Frank Baum novel/ Victor Fleming film to the neighborhood of Harlem in New York, and finds Dorothy Gale (Diana Ross) swept away by a magical snowstorm to a fantastical metropolis of Oz. The movie was not successful when it hit theaters, however within the many years since its launch, it has discovered its viewers and turn into a cult basic. It was tailored as a TV particular that aired dwell on NBC in 2015, the ensemble solid together with Shanice Williams, David Alan Grier, Queen Latifah, Mary J. Blige, and Uzo Aduba.
Justin Simien highlighted the historic significance of The Wiz, noting that it was the primary collaboration between Michael Jackson and producer Quincy Jones, and so far as private significance is worried, he’s constantly moved by the arc of Diana Ross’ Dorothy. He continued,
There’s so many issues about it that I like. And truly the journey of it – I am being very earnest right here – Diana Ross’ model of Dorothy, which we are able to get into the realism of that, her journey of determining the way to step outdoors of herself and be on the market on the earth, although it is actually painful, that is truthfully… There are some occasions I might be in my automobile at 40 years outdated listening to ‘House’ with full tears in my eyes as a result of I am connecting in my current day life. I like that film.
Precisely when Justin Simien may get an opportunity to make his personal model of The Wiz is sophisticated by the truth that there may be already one other main alternate tackle The Wizard Of Oz set to hit theaters comparatively quickly: director Jon M. Chu’s Depraved, which stars Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo and might be in theaters on November 27, 2024. But when that movie finally ends up being a monster hit, Hollywood might find yourself gaining a starvation for various Wizard Of Oz takes, and Simien might be prepared along with his pitch.
Whereas we await that day, audiences in all places can see Justin Simien’s newest movie proper now, as Haunted Mansion – based mostly on the beloved Disney experience – hits theaters this weekend.
