Leonardo DiCaprio’s Appian Way, Chad A. Verdi’s Verdi Productions, and Danny Strong have teamed up to produce “Oz,” a documentary about the making of “The Wizard of Oz.” Tom Donahue (“Mafia Spy,” “This Changes Everything”) has been tapped to direct.
“Oz,” currently in production, goes behind the scenes at the 1939 production, which “tested the limits of its creators,” including director Victor Fleming and star Judy Garland, according to the film’s description. The doc also explores how and why the film became a timeless classic.
“‘The Wizard of Oz’ is deeply ingrained in our culture, and its influence continues to resonate today. We are fortunate to have the opportunity to tell this story and to do it with Danny Strong, Chad Verdi and the team at Verdi Productions,” said DiCaprio.
Using never-before-seen and never-before-seen footage and audio, Donoghue explores how this beloved classic was made during the crisis of Hollywood’s studio heyday, and why it became one of the most influential films of all time, and why it remains one of the most influential films of all time.
The film spawned sequels and musicals, including a Broadway spin-off and “Wicked,” which was eventually made into a film. Warner Bros. movies were made with the then state-of-the-art three-strip Technicolor 35mm movie camera. A new digital version of the film was shown at the Sphere in Las Vegas in August.
During Variety’s 120 Screenings series in August, film critic Leonard Maltin explained why The Wizard of Oz captivated and continues to captivate audiences. “You have to know that you’re aiming for perfection,” Martin says. “This film was very expensive to make, and it shows. It was very difficult to recoup the investment, and it only made money by being re-released in theaters and eventually sold to television, where it became ingrained in our popular culture.”
“Oz” marks Appian Way’s fourth collaboration with Verdi Productions. Past credits include “Sleepwalker” and “Carthage Must Be Destroyed.”
“We are very pleased to continue our partnership with Appian Way and collaborate on this fourth collaboration,” said Verdi. “The Wizard of Oz is a beloved classic, but the behind-the-scenes history of its production is even more remarkable and has never been fully told.”
Donahue and Ilan Arboleda’s CreativeChaos vmg will produce Oz with DiCaprio, Verdi and Strong’s Danny Strong Productions. Additional producers include Jennifer Davison, Philip Watson, Michelle Verdi, Chad Verdi Jr., and Paul Luba. Taylor DiGilio and Serra Verdi will serve as executive producers.
“It is an incredible honor to be able to tell the story of the birth of one of the most important works of art in the history of international film, and what better way to do it than in the hands of filmmakers Tom Donahue and Ilan Arboleda,” said Strong. “Producing with Leonardo DiCaprio, Appian Way, and their longtime collaborator Chad Verdi, we have a veritable dream team to tell this dream story.”
A reenactment is currently being filmed in Rhode Island. “Oz” is scheduled to be released in 2026.
