A new take on the Wizard of Oz books, executive produced by Gwen Stefani and Blake Shelton, is coming to Amazon Prime, Deadline reports.
The streaming service is developing Dorothy, a contemporary, young-adult reimagining of L. Frank Baum’s series of children’s books that launched in 1900 with The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.
Baum’s novels have been adapted for the screen many times, most notably in the iconic 1939 film The Wizard of Oz, directed by Victor Fleming and starring Judy Garland, Frank Morgan, and Ray Bolger, and in the 1978 film The Wiz, directed by Sidney Lumet and starring Diana Ross, Michael Jackson, and Nipsey Russell.
Dorothy will be produced by Gina Matthews (What Women Want, 13 Going on 30). Musicians Stefani and Shelton are among the series’ executive producers.
“I’ve been in love with the Wizard of Oz books since I was a child,” Matthews told Deadline. “The story reminds us of the qualities we need to get through hard times, and Dorothy is a symbol of strength who shows us that with a little kindness—and a lot of grit—we can not only achieve great things but also lift up those around us. I’m excited to bring that message to the world, now more than ever.”
And Stefani said, “It’s a creative and modern take on a classic, and being part of something that blends music, emotion, and the character of Dorothy is inspiring to me.”
Michael Schaub is a contributing writer.
