Disney really wants you to see Oz: The Great and Powerful when it hits next month. In an effort to get people into theaters, the company has unleashed two new TV spots.
Although the clips aren’t too different than what we’ve seen before, eagle-eyed viewers will spot some new footage peppered throughout the videos included below.
The studio officially describes the film as follows:
“When Oscar Diggs, a small-time circus magician with dubious ethics, is hurled away from dusty Kansas to the vibrant Land of Oz, he thinks he’s hit the jackpot–fame and fortune are his for the taking–that is until he meets three witches, Theodora, Evanora, and Glinda, who are not convinced he is the great wizard everyone’s been expecting. Reluctantly drawn into the epic problems facing the Land of Oz and its inhabitants, Oscar must find out who is good and who is evil before it is too late. Putting his magical arts to use through illusion, ingenuity–and even a bit of wizardry–Oscar transforms himself not only into the great and powerful Wizard of Oz but into a better man as well.”
Instead of crafting his own original story, Sam Raimi turned to the books for inspiration. The director said during a recent chat with Total Film that he didn’t have to re-invent any of the history for the prequel.
He explained:
“Mitchell [Kapner, screenwriter] took about 40 per cent of the events that were sprinkled here and there about Oz from Baum’s books and really created the other 60 per cent himself out of his imagination, because there just wasn’t enough there. I gave him notes, I brought aboard a second writer to help fill out some other areas of the story, my brother did a little work on the script, and all the actors contributed. It really was a very big collaboration.”
Both of the TV spots have been embedded below.
Oz: The Great and Powerful stars James Franco, Michelle Williams, Mila Kunis, Zach Braff, Rachel Weisz, and Joey King. Look for the film to arrive in theaters on March 8.