$20m film will be directed by Rob Silvestri of Starz Animation.

Starz Animation Toronto, Multiple Media Entertainment (MME), and Gigapix Studios are starting production on stereoscopic animated feature OZ3D, which is a new adaptation of L Frank Baum’s The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.

The film, budgeted at $20m, will be produced by Michael Taylor and Drew Craig of MME.

Connor Pritchard wrote the script and Starz Animation’s Rob Silvestri [pictured] directs.

Taylor said: “Coming off the tremendous job that Starz Animation Toronto did on the hit CG animated feature film Gnomeo and Juliet, they were undeniably the place to go for world class production talent and experience to execute on such an internationally known and beloved property like OZ.”

Starz Animation’s EVP Jeff Young added: “Creatively, the OZ3D project is hilarious, perfect for the modern audience and at the same time is respectful of the underlying material.”

MME is handling worldwide distribution, and Gigapix Releasing will handle the US release on a planned 1,000+ screens.

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