Writer and director Kenya Barris is remaking the Hollywood classic The Wizard of Oz and plans to put his own modern and inclusive spin on the beloved story. Based on the book series by author L. Frank Baum, 1939's The Wizard of Oz is considered one of the greatest achievements in American cinema, and is still watched by audiences around the globe nearly 90 years after its debut. The film stars Judy Garland as young Dorothy who is whisked away by a tornado from her drab Great Depression-stricken Kansas to the magical land of Oz.

Besides its accessible fairy tale story and whimsical music, The Wizard of Oz also pushed the boundaries of visual effects for the era and was one of the first major motion pictures in vibrant color. Like many of its Golden Age Hollywood contemporaries, The Wizard of Oz has been remade, adapted, and translated to other forms of media consistently since its debut. Now, Black-ish creator Kenya Barris aims to tackle the beloved intellectual property and bring it into the modern day with an inclusive cast and a contemporary story.

The Wizard Of Oz Remake Is Confirmed

Another New Vision For The Classic Hollywood Film

Unlike other film projects which exist as rumor and speculation before they are officially announced, the Wizard of Oz remake was confirmed by Kenya Barris himself while promoting his Richard Pryor biopic series. At the same time that he announced his remake of 1946's It's a Wonderful Life, Barris revealed plans for his take on The Wizard of Oz, including a change of setting and a more inclusive cast. Despite Barris' comments, nothing has been confirmed regarding the film's cast or its production timeline.

The original Wizard of Oz opened on August 25, 1939.

Who Is Making The Wizard Of Oz Remake?

Kenya Barris Is Remaking Several Hollywood Classics

Barris is far from the first creator to remake the story, nor is he even the first to add a Black cast, something The Wiz did in 1978.

Writer and director Kenya Barris is the only name attached to the remake of The Wizard of Oz thus far, but he has a proven track record of success on TV and at the movies. Though he isn't a well-known name, Barris is perhaps best ed for creating the hit series Black-ish, but he has been around Hollywood for decades helping write for shows like America's Next Top Model and Girlfriends. Barris is also no stranger to movies and has penned films like the recent Shaft remake and 2022's Cheaper by the Dozen.

Acknowledging the controversy surrounding remaking such a beloved film, Barris justified his decision by saying "I think this is the perfect time to switch the characters and talk about what someone imagines their life could be". Though the entire plot hasn't been revealed yet, Barris' plan to modernize The Wizard of Oz is staying true to his own interpretation of the story. Barris is far from the first creator to remake the story, nor is he even the first to add a Black cast, something The Wiz did in 1978.

Major Wizard of Oz remakes include:

The Wizard Of Oz Remake Story

A More Inclusive Take On The Wizard Of Oz

Kenya Barris has given clues about how he will change up The Wizard of Oz in his remake, and the first major alteration has to do with the setting. Shifting the focus away from any-town USA Kansas as seen in the original, Barris envisions his story set in the sprawling Bottoms apartment complex in Inglewood, California. The main character will be Black instead of white, though no other major changes have been revealed yet.

Barris also hinted at the fantasy elements of his remake, suggesting he will lean into the idea of Oz as a fantastical escape from the harsh realities of life. The story has always used the land of Oz as a thinly veiled metaphor for the real world, and it was always implied that Oz was merely a figment of Dorothy's imagination. Only time will tell how Barris works that concept into his remake of The Wizard of Oz.