Since the books are public domain, I'd like to see the later books adapted. Isn't GLINDA OF OZ supposed to be the darkest one?
Not sure if this one is an adaptation. OZ THE GREAT AND POWERFUL wasn't. Since the books are public domain, anyone can adapt them. Or are they just not very good?
http://www.freewebs.com/demonictoys/
This is based on a book, but the book is by Roger Baum, the great grandson of L. Frank Baum. I haven't read Roger's stuff, but from what I've gathered about him, he sounds like someone riding the coattails of his famous relative in order to make a buck. It's my understanding that he hasn't even read any of his great grandfather's books and even has mixed elements from the 1939 Wizard of Oz film into his work. Perhaps it's for that reason that his books appeal to people seeking to do film adaptations- L. Frank Baum's books often featured new main characters other than Dorothy, the Scarecrow, et. al, which perhaps scares off those preferring familiarity, whereas Roger plays it safe by sticking with the characters people remember from The Wizard of Oz. Personally, I think it's ridiculous that Roger is perceived by some as the natural inheritor of his ancestor's legacy, just because he happens to be related to the guy. I guess the name and the family connection is what largely gives him & his books an air of legitimacy, even if they're not very good.
Personally, I'd much rather see an adaptation of one of the original books. It would even make more sense from a financial standpoint- they are public domain after all, so studios wouldn't have to pay the author or his family royalties.
If this Roger Baum is that bad, maybe some studios have stayed away from the original works, because Roger will make a big deal about it, seeing is he wouldn't make any money, and studios worry he might slander the film and an unknowing public will side with the creator's family, causing their adaptation to flop.
http://www.freewebs.com/demonictoys/
Interesting hypothesis, but I doubt Roger has that kind of clout- that he could force studios to adapt his books out of sheer intimidation. I haven't heard what he thinks about Oz the Great and Powerful and I'm sure the general public doesn't know who he is or care what he has to say. Christopher Tolkein has not been shy about expressing his disapproval of Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings trilogy, but that didn't stop those movies from becoming huge successes- and I venture to say that J.R.R. Tolkein fans are more numerous and more passionate than Baum fans. DC and Warner Bros. have been in a bitter legal battle with the family of at least one of Superman's creators for years, but I don't think that that has affected the popularity of that character.
sharehttp://www.amazon.com/review/R1OG7O0Y3P36WH/ref=cm_cr_rdp_perm
My Amazon.com review of Roger S. Baum's book, Dorothy of Oz.
Doctor Mabuse, Evil Genius, King of Crime
It is very unlikely that any major studio would ever adapt any of the original novels because they are in public domain. If Warner Bros. starts working on "Glinda of Oz" (which, by the way, is no more dark than any of the other books) and New Line hears about it, they can also start work on a production of "Glinda of Oz", and so can Disney and every other studio. Major studios aren't that interested in public domain works for this reason.
shareIf the major studios weren't interested in public domain works, then why would they jump to follow suit if one of them did? I'm guessing there's some other reason.
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