REEL NEWS: The Wizard of Oznever quite goes away. There was John Boorman's sideways take in Zardoz. Diana Ross got on down the road in The Wiz. Then there was Walter Murch's decidedly weird Return to Oz. Now it seems that Sam Raimi is closing in on a prequel to the durable 1939 classic. The story finds the faux-wizard arriving in Oz and, somewhat to his surprise, being treated as a class of guru.

James Franco is set to play the wizard, with Zach Braff taking the role of his assistant. Michelle Williams and Rachel Weisz are also on board. Could it be a hit? Well, just think how much money that new version of Alice in Wonderlandmade. Raimi's flick will, of course, be in stupid 3D.