The battle for Oz begins: rival sequels planned

Disney's 'Wizard of Oz' prequel 'Oz: The Great and Powerful' is storming towards box office glory, with a solid opening weekend around the world following its release last week.

Despite lukewarm reviews, the film is not far from recovering its $200 million production costs, having made $149 million in just a few days, and is likely to become the most successful movie of the year so far.

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Though Sam Raimi has pretty much ruled himself out of directing, a sequel – probably more than one - is already in the pipeline, with Mila Kunis telling E! Online that 'we’re all signed on for sequels'.

It also emerged last week that writer Mitchell Kapner, who wrote the first film, has been tapped for another instalment.

What a sequel may involve, however, is the cause of some contention, and it's possible that two major studios could be going head-to-head over the substantial Oz dollar, thanks to the franchise's complex ownership.

Warner Bros. owns the original 1939 film, and Disney's runaway success with 'Oz: The Great and Powerful' must sting, particularly as it decided against its own reboots, and more so because former Warner studio boss Alan Horn was the man to pass. He is now at rival Disney, and oversaw the final production of 'Oz: The Great and Powerful'.

In fact, Warner had three 'Oz' films planned at one stage, while Disney were working up 'Great and Powerful'. One, a non-musical remake, was set to be directed by 'Hellboy's Guillermo Del Toro.

Meanwhile, there were also plans to make 'Oz: The Return to the Emerald City', in which Dorothy's granddaughter was to pitch up in Oz to fight evil, and 'Surrender Dorothy', a modern day take on the tale made by Drew Barrymore's production company.

But the plans were shelved, according to the LA Times, over creative issues, and concerns over competing with Disney's production.

Now, however, in a move which will up the stakes of competition between the two rival studios, Warner is planning an 'Oz'-based cable TV show and a 3D DVD release of the original film to celebrate its upcoming 75th anniversary.

The TV project has been pitched with the name 'Red Brick Road', the alternate route in the film to the famous yellow brick road, a darker take on the property, reportedly billed as 'Game of Thrones in the Oz world'.

The Disney sequel's content, however, will 'absolutely not' feature Dorothy, and any references to the Warner-owned 1939 film, such as the ruby slippers, will be deftly avoided.

Writer Kapner told the LA Times: “its 20 years before Dorothy arrives. A lot can happen in that time.”

Merchandising, always a valuable revenue stream, will be tricky for Disney too, in case of copyright infringements, including being unable to manufacture items like the ruby slippers, while Warners have long sold licensed Dorothy dresses in blue gingham.

But whether two rival studios making 'Oz'-based material in a bid to cash-in on the renewed popularity of the fictional world will be good for fans remains to be seen.

'Oz the Great and Powerful' is in UK cinemas now.