So now that we've got Oz the Great and Powerful down pat. What can we expect next?
According to web reports, the actors are all signed up for sequels but director Sam Raimi mentioned he isn't onboard to direct the sequel to Oz the Great and Powerful. The movie however ended hopeful of sequels to come and Raimi had hinted as much saying he left a lot of things open for the next director to work on.
But fellow Ozmanians, let us speculate. Now that we've got the origin story for the Wizard done, what can we expect in the next installments of the Oz franchise? Here are my takes on possible storylines the franchise can take:
A "New" Wizard of Oz Story
This is inevitable. Now that you've got the prequel done, there's no reason not to do a remake of the main book -- The Wizard of Oz -- the story of Dorothy Gale and her dog Toto, the Scarecrow, the Tin Woodman, and the Cowardly Lion and their adventures in the Land of Oz. Of course, the movie has to remain faithful to the story of the book albeit with liberties such as what they've done in Oz the Great and Powerful.
Wicked Witches Conquer East and West
Obviously, the Wicked Witch sisters have been driven out of the Emerald City but not entirely defeated. Theodroa still has her black magic and the militaristic Winkies on hand while Evanora still has her Winged Baboons in thrall. Evanora regains her magical powers and she and Theodora marshall their troops to capture the East --the Land of the Munchkins where Evanora sets up her rule. On the other hand, Theodora marches the Winkies westward and capture the lands west of Oz. This'll be ala "Empire Strike Back" and would be good to have before the Wizard of Oz tale.
The Search for the Witch of the North
Where is the Witch of the North? Oz and Glinda head a delegation of adventurers and travel northward to find the prophesied Witch of the North. But Evanora and Theodora will hinder this quest as they hope to get to the North Witch first and corrupt her. A movie like this would provide an opportunity to introduce new elements to the mythos or to introduce other fantastical elements in the books culminating in the emergence of the Good Witch of the North (the one who'll arrive at the Land of the Munchkins when Dorothy Gale's house lands on and kills the Wicked Witch of the East).
Glinda the Guardian of the South
A threat from beyond the Great Desert comes to the Land of Oz' south and the Quadlings are the target. Glinda leaves the Emerald City to defend the southern land and Oz goes with her to help. In this storyline, we can entrench Glinda in the south, firmly establishing her as the Witch of the South and she relinquishes her right to the throne and says to Oz that he must rule in her stead while the true ruler of Oz has yet to emerge (a hint of Ozma). While in the south, a new male character can be introduced and Glinda will fall in love with this soldier who'll help defeat the threat to Oz. Oz is defeated in love and miserably returns to the Emerald City to forever shun away any contact with until Dorothy arrives.
Would any of these make for a credible next installment to Oz the Great and Powerful? What do you think?
