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Cast
announced for The Muppets' Wonderful Wizard of Oz
Production
to begin this September in Vancouver, British Columbia
Courtesy
of ABC
August
26, 2004
OZ
HUMAN CAST |
Grammy Award
Winner Ashanti to star as Dorothy
Academy Award
Nominee Queen Latifah to Star as "Auntie Em"
Academy Award
Winner Quentin Tarantino Set to Make Hilarious Cameo as Himself
Jeffrey Tambor as The
Wizard
David Alan Grier as Uncle
Henry |
International R&B
super star Ashanti is set to make her leading lady debut as "Dorothy"
in the original telefilm, "The Muppets' Wonderful Wizard of Oz,"
for the ABC Television Network. Joining her in this madcap adventure movie
are actress/rapper/producer superstar Queen Latifah ("Chicago,"
"Barbershop 2") as her beloved guardian "Auntie Em"
and action film master, director Quentin Tarrantino ("Kill Bill,"
vols. 1 and 2) in a cameo as himself. "The Muppets' Wonderful Wizard
of Oz" is slated to begin production in Vancouver, BC on September
20 and will air in the 2004-05 season as part of the hit family franchise,
"The Wonderful World of Disney."
Of course
the biggest star in the telefilm - she's absolutely certain - is Miss
Piggy, who will take on the roles of all four witches: Wicked Witch of
the East, Wicked Witch of the West, the Good Witch of the North and Glinda,
the Good Witch of the South. Kermit the Frog is the Scarecrow, in search
of a brain; The Great Gonzo is the Tin Man, in search of his heart, and
Fozzie Bear is the Lion looking for some courage. Pepe the King Prawn
takes on the role of Toto, Dorothy's constant - and constantly chattering
- sidekick.
"We're
excited to be working with these award-winning and talented artists on
our first project since the Muppets joined The Walt Disney Company earlier
this year," said Chris Curtin, general manager and vice president,
Muppet Holding Company. "I know that Kermit, Miss Piggy and the rest
of the Muppet gang, together with Ashanti and Queen Latifah, will certainly
add a one-of-a-kind twist to this classic story and will entertain and
inspire television audiences everywhere."
Based on
the book "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz" by L. Frank Baum, the
Muppets version gives the story a couple of twists and tweaks without
ever losing the central meaning of the classic story. Contemporary teenage
Dorothy is a girl with dreams of showbiz that seem far from coming true
in the Kansas trailer park where she lives. When she's transported to
the magical land of Oz, she joins with the Scarecrow, the Tin Man and
the Lion to fight the Wicked Witch of the West and journey to the Wizard,
who, she hopes, will make her a star!
The
last Muppets telefilm, "It's a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie,"
won its time-slot with a 3.8 rating and over 11 million viewers. The numbers
are just as impressive for Ashanti. In 2002 her debut album, "Ashanti,"
topped the Billboard Album Chart and also won the Grammy for Best Contemporary
R&B Album. Her follow-up release, "Chapter II," debuted
in the no. 1 slot on the Billboard Album Chart and spawned two Top-10
singles. She is certainly no stranger to television, having performed
on virtually every music awards show from the American Music Awards to
the Grammys, the MTV Video Music Awards, MTV Europe Awards, the Soul Train
Awards and the Kids' Choice Awards.
"This one movie
brings together three of entertainment's most recognizable franchises,"
said Quinn Taylor, senior vice president, Motion Pictures for Television
and Miniseries, ABC Primetime Entertainment. "'The Wonderful World
of Disney," the Muppets and the story of 'The Wonderful Wizard of
Oz.' It's thrilling to have a project where there is something to motivate
literally every single demographic to watch."
Lisa Henson and Brian
Henson are executive producers of "The Muppets' Wonderful Wizard
of Oz." Martin G. Baker and Warren Carr are producers and Bill Baretta
and Kristine Belson are co-producers. The telefilm is being directed by
Kirk R. Thatcher ("It's a Very Muppets Christmas Movie.)" "The
Muppets' Wonderful Wizard of Oz" is being produced by The Jim Henson
Company in association with Touchstone Television and Muppets Holding
Company, the Disney subsidiary responsible for managing the overall Muppets
franchise.

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Muppet Christmas Carol arrives on Blu-ray November 6
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• "Kermit's Party" viral
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• The
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