James Franco and Mila Kunis for 'Wizard Of Oz' prequel

Sam Raimi has signed up James Franco and Mila Kunis for his forthcoming The Wizard Of Oz prequel. Black Swan actress Kunis will play witch Theodorah in the new film, which has the working title Oz, The Great And Powerful.

The character Theodorah goes on to become the Wicked Witch Of The West, the main antagonist of the original Wizard Of Oz story.
127 Hours actor Franco will play the part of a young illusionist with a grandiose attitude - a role previously attached to Robert Downey Jr and Johnny Depp.

In the plot the character is forced to flee a traveling circus. His hot air balloon is swept up by a tornado to the land of Oz, which is run by two magical wicked witches, one of which is Kunis' character.

Nymag.com reports that Kunis chose Raimi's movie over the Hughes' brothers' forthcoming live-action remake of 1988 Manga movie Akira. It was rumoured that Franco would appear in that remake too.

Franco and Kunis previously worked together in 2010's Date Night, playing the criminal couple who Steve Carell and Tina Fey are confused with.