New Line Cinema to Make L. Frank Baum Biopic

There will be a new Wizard of Oz-related film in the near future.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, New Line Cinema has picked up a script by Josh Golden about The Wizard of Oz author, L. Frank Baum. Entitled ROAD TO OZ, this biographical feature tells the story of Baum's early life. Beau Flynn is set to produce through FlynnPictureCo.

Golden and ROAD TO OZ are 2014 Academy Nicholl Fellowships finalists.

Writer L. Frank Baum is most famous for his best-selling book, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, the 13 subsequent sequels, as well as the Academy Award-winning musical film starring Judy Garland, The Wizard of Oz. Though he did not write it, he is best known in the Broadway community for the Tony Award-winning smash hit, WICKED, a musical prequel to The Wizard of Oz. In 2013, Disney released Oz the Great and Powerful. And there is yet another Oz-based animated musical yet to be released, Dorothy of Oz, featuring the vocal talents of Broadway veterans Megan Hilty (Smash, 9 TO 5, WICKED), Lea Michele (Glee), and more.

Baum also wrote many other children's books, including Dot and Tot of Merryland, The Sea Fairies, and Sky Island.

No word on casting yet, but based on the A-list casting of previous biopics about authors (Saving Mr. Banks, starring Tom Hanks and Emma Thompson, Finding Neverland starring Johnny Depp and Kate Winslet), it seems likely that a big star will appear in this picture.

Golden has worked with Finding Neverland producer Nellie Bellflower on the ROAD TO OZ script. Bellflower and Mislove are also producing with Flynn.

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