‘Wizard of Oz’ Universe-Set Horror Movie in the Works at New Line – Variety

New Line is in early development on a horror film set in the iconic world of L. Frank Baums novel The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.

The studio, a division of Warner Bros., has bought an untitled pitch by screenwriter Mike Van Waes. The project isnt set up with a producer yet.

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz was published in 1900 and adapted into a successful musical in 1902. As with the 1939 movie starring Judy Garland, the story followsa girl named Dorothy in Kansas who lives on the prairie with her Aunt Em, Uncle Henry, and dog. A tornado carries Dorothy and Toto to a magical land to battle the Wicked Witch of the West.

Baums story has been adapted numerous times, most recently in Disneys 2013 fantasy adventureOz the Great and Powerful, starring James Franco.

Along with Blumhouse, New Line has been on a roll over the past four years with modestly-budgeted horror hits. Its filmsinclude the two Conjuring movies, with each grossing more than$300 million worldwide; a pair of Annabelle spinoffs; Lights Out, which grossed $150 million worldwide; and its adaptation of Stephen Kings It, due out Sept. 8.

Van Waes sold his Black List script Hammerspace to Warner Bros. last year. The story focuses on a terminally-ill teenager looking for answers about his missing father who finds a key that unlocks an opening to an alternate animated dimension. Van Waes also set up a movie version of his project Peeves at Fox Animation last year, with Temple Hill producing.

Van Waes is repped by CAA, Grandview, and Bloom Hergott.

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'Wizard of Oz' Universe-Set Horror Movie in the Works at New Line - Variety