Oz Gets Date and China Girl

files/pictures/picture-35.jpgWalt Disney Pictures has set March 8, 2013 as the release date from OZ, THE GREAT AND POWERFUL, reports ComingSoon.net [1]. Moreover, Variety [2] reveals that RAMONA AND BEEZUS star Joey King has been cast as China Girl. She joins James Franco, Mila Kunis, Michelle Williams and Rachel Weisz.

Franco plays the circus wrangler who gets whisked off to the Land of Oz where he befriends China Girl after the wicked witch Evanora (Weisz) destroys her family and turns her to porcelain.

Sam Raimi is helming the WIZARD OF OZ prequel from a script by Mitchell Kapner and David Lindsay-Abaire. Joe Roth, Josh Donen and Grant Curtis are the producers.

Production is set to begin in July.