FIRST LOOK: Flying Monkey from Director Sam Raimi's OZ: THE GREAT AND POWERFUL

The upcoming film directed by Sam Raimi and adapted from L. Frank Baum's 1900 novel The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, will act as a prequel to the 1939 film The Wizard of Oz and stars James Franco, Zach Braff and Mila Kunis, Michelle Williams, and Rachel Weisz.

Oz The Great and Powerful imagines the origins of L. Frank Baum’s beloved character, the Wizard of Oz. When Oscar Diggs (James Franco), a small-time circus magician with dubious ethics, is hurled away from dusty Kansas to the vibrant Land of Oz, he thinks he’s hit the jackpot—fame and fortune are his for the taking—that is until he meets three witches, Theodora (Mila Kunis), Evanora (Rachel Weisz), and Glinda (Michelle Williams), who are not convinced he is the great wizard everyone’s been expecting.

Reluctantly drawn into the epic problems facing the Land of Oz and its inhabitants, Oscar must find out who is good and who is evil before it is too late. Putting his magical arts to use through illusion, ingenuity—and even a bit of wizardry—Oscar transforms himself not only into the great and powerful Wizard of Oz but into a better man as well.

Sam Raimi will direct the film under the Walt Disney banner with Joe Roth, who helped successfully revive a similar fantasy franchise with 2010's Alice in Wonderland, on board to produce. Oz: The Great and Powerful begins filming in July in preparation for theatrical release March 8, 2013.