Lions, tigers, and bears, oh my!Warner Bros. Pictures’ New Line Cinema hassigned Kenya Barristo pen and direct a modern reboot of the beloved American classic,The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. Best known for creatingBlackish, Barris also created two spinoffs from the show:Grown-ishandMixed-ish. Despite his relative inexperience in film, Barris is a talented voice with the ability to deliver a truly unique and modern take on one of the most influential works of the 20th century.
An important question about our forthcoming return to the yellow brick road has yet to be answered – will this new take on the story follow the infamous 1939 MGM release ofThe Wizard of Ozor the original book (The Wonderful Wizard of Oz) on which the movie was based? For those unfamiliar with both, some pretty interesting contrasts exist between the two.
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, originally published August 26, 2025, was the magical, literary creation of L. Frank Baum. The book immediately captivated audiences with its expansive world, quirky characters, and endearing tale of finding the way home. The book went on to sell 3 million copies by the time it entered the public domain in 1956.The Wizard of Ozhas staying power for a reason. The original book transformed the literary landscape of its time, much like Lewis Carroll’sThrough the Looking Glasshad done in 1872. Children’s books have never been the same since.
Baum’s book is packed with scenes, details, and characters that failed to make the transition to the 1939 big screen.
What Will Dorothy’s Slippers Look Like?
Everyone knows Dorothy loves crushing wicked witches with falling houses. Maybe even more people are familiar with Dorothy’s reward for felling theWicked Witch of the East. Ruby slippers, right? Wrong. Well, at least according to the original book. Instead, Dorothy is given the witch’s silver slippers as a reward for defeating her.
Though not a significant change, Dorothy’s ruby slippers have become an iconic portion ofThe Wizard of Ozlore. That said, pay attention to the color of Dorothy’s footwear in the forthcoming remake.
What Creatures Will Be Featured?
The book is filled with scenes and plot moments that didn’t make the cut to film. The majority of the third act is entirely different as Dorothy and company are compelled to travel deep into the land of the south in hopes of finding a way home. In addition, an earlier scene finds our band of merry travelers as they reach a wide and formidable river. The group manages to construct a raft to fight across the torrid currents.
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In the process, Scarecrow is left bobbing at the end of a discarded oar and feared lost forever. That is until he’s rescued by a giant, talking Crane. The book delivers a lot more flavor in its selection of anthropomorphic characters. Along with the talking crane, the group meets a large den of friendly field mice that prove instrumental in crossing through the poppy fields that block the path to the Emerald City.
However, not all creatures they come across are as helpful. Part tiger and part bear, the Kalidah is a ferocious predator of Oz. While on her journey down the yellow brick road, Dorothy and company have the unfortunate luck of bumping into a couple of these terrifying creatures. Even the Lion, with all his size and power, is dwarfed in strength by the Kalidah. It will be interesting to see if any of these creatures will finally find their place in the new film adaptation.
What Influence Will 1939’s The Wizard of Oz Have?
It seems unlikely that the 1939 movie adaptation’s influence onThe Wizard of Ozlore will be ignored altogether. The film’s incredible success propelled its unique take to the forefront of popular culture. In a testament to the film’s effect on viewers, loyal fans of the movie have gone so far as to meticulouslyremaster scenes into stunning 4k. Indeed, the film is responsible for some of the most memorable moments within the story. Namely, the stark transition from the Kansas prairie’s bleak black and white setting to the dazzling color and life found in the land of Oz.
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Furthermore, the musical structure of the film breathed an exuberant optimism into the Oz mythos. Timeless songs like “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” helped to defineJudy Garland’s career, while “If I Only Had a Brain” has resounded in the culture ever since its debut over 80 years ago.
Given the unfathomable success of the 1939 film adaption ofThe Wizard of Oz, it would take an incredible act of bravery (bordering on insanity) to set all the movie’s influences aside for a truly fresh adaptation of the source material. No matter which direction the story goes, we can all look forward to another trip over the rainbow in the near future.
In the meant time, pick up a copy of L. Frank Baum’s literary masterpiece and read the story that has captivated readers for over 120 years. At 20 chapters and 272 pages,The Wizard of Ozoffers an easy, magic-infused journey sure to keep the reader entertained to the last page.
