Kenya Barris Developing Reimagining of ‘The Wizard of Oz’ (Set in Inglewood!?) and ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’

January 25, 2024

*Kenya Barris is developing a reimagining of two classic Hollywood movies, “The Wizard of Oz” and “It’s a Wonderful Life.”

Barris is also developing a biopic about comedian Richard Pryor, slated to be a 10-part limited biographical TV series.

“It is my baby. I love it. He is my comedy god. A super flawed guy, but who everything, to this day, the comedy that we remember — even including [Dave] Chappelle — is derivative of what he started,” Barris said of Pryor at the Variety Studio during Sundance Film Festival, Complex reports.

“That honest, reflecting, observational look at what the world is and the differences between us that actually make us more similar than we are apart. I think telling his story and letting people see things that they didn’t know about him is something that I’m super excited to bring to life,” Barris continued.

Meanwhile, Barris said his reimagining of “The Wizard of Oz” will portray Dorothy as a young woman from Inglewood, California, who dreams of a better life.

“The original Wizard of Oz took place during the Great Depression and it was about self-reliance and what people were going through,” Barris said.

“I think this is the perfect time to switch the characters and talk about what someone imagines their life could be. It’s ultimately a hero’s journey, someone thinks something’s better than where they’re at, and they go and realize that where they’re at is where they should be,” he explained during the Sundance panel.

“I want people to be proud and happy about where they’re from. But I want the world to take a look at it and I hope that will come through,” Barris added.

The acclaimed TV writer/director also plans to flip the script on the 1976 Christmas film “It’s a Wonderful Life” and cast a person of color in the lead role.

“I feel like Christmas movies are amazing and I think the idea of taking something that has that long of a history and a tale behind it and putting an amazing piece of talent to tell that story,” Barris said. “It’s a guy who’s trying to help out his community and things are going to turn around on him. I think that’s the perfect story to tell for a person of color — Black or brown — to get into that because our communities have some issues and someone trying to help that community out. I think that’s the perfect vehicle to tell that story from.”

We Publish News 24/7. Don’t Miss A Story. Click HERE to SUBSCRIBE to Our Newsletter Now!