Oz goes to war

**ZION** · 08-12-2009

http://movies.ign.com/articles/101/1013275p1.html

Oz Goes to War
Vanguard Films picks up Wizard sequel, more.
by Scott Collura

August 12, 2009 - Vanguard Films has picked up the screen rights to the Wizard of Oz graphic-novel sequel The Oz Wars as well as another book called Circus Galacticus.

The Oz Wars is, according to Variety, "an action film set in the Emerald City, where a fierce war is waged by the Witches in their evil citadel against the resistance fighters led by the beleaguered Wizard." The story was written by an "established screenwriter" who's using the pseudonym "Dorothy Gale."

Circus Galacticus, meanwhile, takes place in the future and involves a circus of "mythic creatures, fantasy aerialists, and heroic guerrilla fighters. They navigate the dark realm ruled by despotic tyrants who've taken control of Earth and have designated the circus as the only permissible form of entertainment." The graphic novel comes from screenwriter-author Michael Walker.

Both books were purchased by Vanguard boss John H. Williams who apparently discovered them "in galley form" as works-in-progress at the San Diego Comic-Con last month.

"Both have huge spectacle, a clearly defined sci-fi genre PG-13 audience, and powerful themes of liberation and independence," Williams said. "They'll make great graphic novels and have film franchise potential as well."

Williams' Vanguard Animation is soon going into production on Space Chimps 3D, a sequel to its 2008 film. It also has the animated feature Alien Band: The Battle of the Bands Just Got Ugly in the works, a comedy about intergalactic garage bands