Franco Takes A Wiz

The very busy James Franco has accepted the lead role in the prequel to "The Wizard of Oz," called "Oz, the Great and Powerful" -- a part that Johnny Depp and Robert Downey Jr. were circling says Deadline

Black Swan's Mila Kunis is in talks to play the Wicked Witch of the West.

Thanks Robert Now I Get To Go To Oz

The story has The Wizard as a “snake-oil salesman” who enters the Technicolor world of Oz after escaping the vengeful husband of his latest sexual conquest. Once in Oz, he lies to the natives, claiming to be a wizard. This deceitful Casanova soon falls for Glinda the Good Witch, and spurns Theodora prompting her to becomes a bad witch and team up with the downright evil Evanora to destroy Oz.

The pic is written by Mitchell Kapner and David Lindsay-Abaire, and will be produced by Joe Roth.

Sam Raimi, who directed Franco in his 3 Spider-Man films will direct

Kunis and Franco were great together in the best part of the comedy Date Night