Although it’s developed a bit of cult following, Disney’s “Return to Oz” is generally overlooked by both the company and the lionshare of its fans. That’s a shame, because The Walt Disney Company had big plans for an “Oz’ franchise (plans we saw revived with 2013’s “Oz the Great and Powerful” only to have them shelved after a disappointing box office result).
For fans of Disney’s “Return to Oz” or any “Oz” film the place to be this summer is at San Diego’s “OzCon International.” Although it covers all things oz, there is a very strong emphasis on “Return to Oz” at this year’s event.
The convention is a 3 day event starting July 31. It consists mainly of track paneling with a main evening program Friday and Saturday night. Featured is a Cast and Crew Reunion Q&A panel for the film, but most guests will have their own individual panels throughout the weekend, and they will be screening the recently released Blu-Ray version of the film and having the cast and crew do a running “commentary” throughout.
Guests so far include : Emma Ridley (Princess Ozma), Piper Laurie (Aunt Em), Justin Case (the Scarecrow), Paul Maslansky (Producer), and author Joan Vinge (the novelization of the film). They are hoping to announce more guests in the near future.
The convention will also be celebrating the 100th anniversary of the publication of L. Frank Baum’s “The Scarecrow of Oz”, the 40th Anniversary of Broadways “The Wiz”, there will be auctions, a costume contest, and much much more!
More information can be found at www.ozconinternational.com.
Sounds like a blast. If you’re a fan of “Return to Oz” are you planning to go? Also, should Disney give up on the world of “Oz” or produce more movies?
I remember “Return to Oz.” I remember how awful it was. I had very high expectations for it, being a lifelong fan of “The Wizard of Oz,” but I remember thinking that the little girl in it was just terrible, and that it lacked everything that made the 1939 version so magical.
Sorry, just not a fan of it. I was similarly unimpressed with “Oz the Great and Powerful.”
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