The Wizard of Oz and It’s a Wonderful Life to get ‘diverse’ reboots as Warner Bros director reveals big changes to classic Hollywood films
‘The Wizard of Oz’ and ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’ will get a ‘diverse’ reboot, a Hollywood director has revealed.
Kenya Barris, who created the ABC sitcom Black-ish, is working on scripts for Warner Bros.’ adaptations of the Hollywood classic, and spoke about his plans to make some major changes for his appearance at the Sundance Film Festival.
Judy Garland’s 1939 film The Wizard Of Oz will get a modern-day remake with The Bottoms set – Inglewood, California, instead of Kansas, the 50-year-old producer said.
Kenya added that this is the “best time to turn the mirror back on society” and he wants to make both films with diverse characters.
“The original Wizard of Oz was set during the Great Depression and was about self-reliance and what people were going through, and I think this is the perfect time to switch characters and talk about what someone imagines they will be in their life,” Kenya told Variety.
The Wizard of Oz and It’s a Wonderful Life will get a “variety” reboot (pictured are Judy Garland and Dorothy Gale in the 1939 film The Wizard of Oz) a Hollywood director has revealed.
Kenya Barris, who created the ABC comedy Black-ish, is working on scripts to adapt Hollywood classics from Warner Bros. (pictured James Steward and Donna Reed)
Judy Garland’s 1939 film The Wizard Of Oz will receive a modern remake at the festival, the 50-year-old said.
“It’s ultimately a hero’s journey, where someone believes there’s something better than where they are, and they go and realize that where they are is where they need to be.”
“I want people to be proud and happy of where they are from but I want the world to take a look at it and I hope it comes true.”
Kenya also spoke about his plans for the 1956 Frank Capra classic starring James Stewart to have a “person of color” as the hero.
The film follows a man who is presented with a guardian angel, Clarence Opode, on Christmas Eve as he battles suicidal thoughts.
Clarence shows George all the lives he has touched and what the world would be like if he didn’t exist.
“I think this is the perfect story to tell for a person of color — black or brown — to get into this because our communities have some issues and someone trying to help that community get out,” Kenya said. I think this is the perfect medium to tell that story from.
Kenya is an American film and television writer, producer, director, and actor best known for creating the hit ABC series Black-ish.
His writing credits include films such as Girls Trip, Soul, and Coming 2 America.
Broadway was a hit when it premiered the musical Wicked, which is now being made into a movie with Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo starring in the film adaptation.
Kenya is an American film and television writer, producer, director, and actor best known for creating the hit ABC series Black-ish (pictured)
In 2020, Paris made his acting debut in #BlackAF, a series he developed for Netflix, co-starring Rashida Jones and Iman Benson.
The original Wizard of Oz film, starring Judy, has been ranked as one of the most influential and greatest films of all time.
The iconic photo by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer has been the inspiration for numerous film, television, and Broadway adaptations.
Notably, The Wiz, which starred the likes of musical celebrities Diana Ross and Michael Jackson, was released on the big screen to great acclaim in 1975.
Broadway was a hit when it premiered the musical Wicked, which is now being made into a movie with Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo starring in the film adaptation.
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