Wizard of Oz remake to be written & directed by Kenya Barris

Based on the novel by L. Frank Baum, The Wizard of Oz remains a beloved fantasy movie. Although it wasn’t the first Wizard of Oz adaptation, the 1939 movie is undoubtedly the best known. It has inspired countless other works over the decades, and we’ve got yet another on the way. Deadline has reported that Kenya Barris is slated to write and direct a remake of The Wizard of Oz for Warner Bros.

Kenya Barris is best known as the creator of Black-ish, but he also had a hand in writing Girl’s Trip, Shaft, and Coming 2 America. Barris is keeping the creative details of his Wizard of Oz remake under wraps for the time being, but it’s said that it will be a “modern reimagining” of the original.

This isn’t the only Wizard of Oz project in the works. It was announced last year that Watchmen director Nicole Kassell would direct a “fresh take” on The Wizard of Oz for New Line Cinema. “I am incredibly honored to join Temple Hill and New Line in bringing this beloved classic to the screen,” said Kassell in a statement. “While the 1939 musical is part of my DNA, I am exhilarated and humbled by the responsibility of re-imagining such a legendary tale. The opportunity to examine the original themes — the quest for courage, love, wisdom and home — feels more timely and urgent than ever. These are profoundly iconic shoes to fill, and I am eager to dance alongside these heroes of my childhood as we pave a newly minted yellow brick road.”

Before Kenya Barris heads to the land of Oz, his next project will be You People, a comedy he directed and co-wrote for Netflix. The comedy follows a new couple and their families who find themselves examining modern love and family dynamics amidst clashing cultures, societal expectations and generational differences. The film stars Jonah Hill, Eddie Murphy, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Lauren London, David Duchovny, Nia Long, and Rhea Perlman and will be released on Netflix later this year.