James Franco Is Sam Raimi's 'Great and Powerful Oz'

James Franco has closed a deal to play the title role in Sam Raimi's 'Oz: The Great and Powerful,' the prequel to the L. Frank Baum novel that was scripted by Mitchell Kapner and David Lindsay-Abaire. Joe Roth is producing.

With Robert Downey Jr. replaced the film is back on track to begin production in July.