87 Years Later, Fantasy’s Most Influential Story Makes a Surprise Return
MeTV will air The Wizard of Oz on broadcast television for the first time in nearly 30 years, with the film set to play on the channel later this year in October. News of the deal broke yesterday. The movie debuted 87 years ago and follows Dorothy Gale and her dog after a tornado sweeps them from their small farm to the magical Land of Oz.
Judy Garland stars as Dorothy, joined by Frank Morgan, Ray Bolger, Bert Lahr and Jack Haley; Victor Fleming directed a screenplay based on L. Frank Baum’s book with contributions from more than 20 writers. The vice chairman of Weigel Broadcasting called The Wizard of Oz “a shared American experience that was defined by the annual tradition of gathering around the television set.” Meanwhile, the Wicked franchise has grown into a major fantasy property, boosted by stars such as Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo.
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