Disney has offered the directing gig for OZ, THE GREAT AND POWERFUL to Sam Raimi, reports VULTURE. The WIZARD OF OZ prequel has been a hot property in Hollywood with the likes of Sam Mendes and Adam Shankman is contention for the directing job as well.

Mitchell Kapner (THE WHOLE NINE YARDS) penned the script. Joe Roth is the producer.

Disney hopes to get the film into production this year to get a jump on two OZ project in development at Warner Bros.