The Wizard of Oz: Watchmen director to give ‘fresh take’ on beloved story

Classic story has been the subject of a number of adaptations

A remake of The Wizard of Oz is in the works, with Watchmen’s Nicole Kassell on board to direct.

According to Variety, New Line Cinema is promising a “fresh take” on the story of Dorothy and the Land of Oz, explaining the film will “draw on other elements” from the most iconic version, the 1939 musical starring Judy Garland.

“I am incredibly honoured to join Temple Hill and New Line in bringing this beloved classic to the screen,” Kassell said in a statement.

“While the 1939 musical is part of my DNA, I am exhilarated and humbled by the responsibility of re-imagining such a legendary tale. The opportunity to examine the original themes — the quest for courage, love, wisdom and home — feels more timely and urgent than ever. These are profoundly iconic shoes to fill, and I am eager to dance alongside these heroes of my childhood as we pave a newly minted yellow brick road!”

Kassell won an Emmy for her work on the HBO series, Watchmen, and has also worked on Vinyl and The Leftovers.

Read more: The best US shows and where to watch them in the UK

The 1939 film The Wizard of Oz is considered one of the greatest films of all time, and is one of several adaptations of L Frank Baum’s 1900 children’s novel, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.

Baum’s characters have been reprised on screen in 1985’s Return to Oz and 2013’s Oz the Great and Powerful as well as in Broadway musicals The Wiz and Wicked.

Last year, Renée Zellweger won an Oscar for portraying Judy Garland in the biopic Judy.