Zach Braff Cast In 'Oz: The Great And Powerful'

Briefly: The latest addition to Sam Raimi's soon-to-shoot Oz: The Great and Powerful is a slightly unexpected one. Zach Braff is finishing up his negotiations to join the film. He'll play Frank, "the loyal but under-appreciated assistant to Oz (James Franco)." Oz is transported to the land of Oz (some name confusion there) when his hot-air balloon is blown off-course; we can expect that Frank is dutifully manning the fire, and probably gets the blame for the course mismanagement that lands Oz in Oz.

The cast also features Mila Kunis as the witch Theodora, and Michelle Williams and Rachel Weisz are finalizing talks to play her two sisters Glinda and Evanora. Joey King will play China Girl, to whom Oz becomes a sort of surrogate father after her family is wiped out by Evanora. Oz: The Great and Powerful starts shooting in Michigan in July; it is scheduled for release on March 8, 2013. [Deadline]