The Multiverse of The Wizard of Oz: Alternate Realities

We hope you're enjoying our series of blogs exploring the "Multiverse" of selected classics by featuring inventive books and films inspired by our favorite time-honored tales. Past installments have included Alice in Wonderland and the Brontës. Now, drawing from reader suggestions, we offer a collection of ten imaginative takes on The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum, as well as the 1939 movie—widely considered to be the most culturally-influential film of all time!

Dorothy Must Die

What if a power-hungry Dorothy found a way to return to Oz and seize control. The first in a dark YA series by Danielle Page reimagines the saga from the perspective of Amy Gumm, another girl from Kansas who has been recruited by the Revolutionary order of the Wicked to take Dorothy down.

The Wiz

Starring Diana Ross, Michael Jackson, Richard Pryor, and others, this film based on the hit Broadway musical was a flop when it first came out in 1978, but since then the Sidney Lumet-directed project has become a cult classic. It's weirdly wonderful—messy, imaginative, and hilarious.

Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West

Gregory Maguire flips the script on the classic tale with this novel centered on the maligned and misunderstood Wicked Witch of the West. The absorbing tale has spawned a hit Broadway musical and, soon, a feature film. As always, you'll want to read before watching.

Spelled

Being the crown princess of Emerald has its perks—like Glenda Original ball gowns and Hans Christian Louboutin heels. But a forced marriage to the not-so-charming prince Kato is not what Dorthea had in mind for her enchanted future. Betsy Schow draws on Baum's tale in book one of her captivating YA series.

Emerald City

Canceled after just one season, this 2017 TV show centers on a modern-day Dorothy as a 20-year-old nurse who inadvertently rides a tornado into Oz. There she meets a cast of oddball characters inspired by the original tale.

Was

This haunting, wildly original novel explores three interwoven narratives related to the legacy of Oz, drawing on both literature and film. Geoff Ryman traverses the American landscape to reveal how the human imagination can transcend the bleakest circumstance.

Oz the Great and Powerful

This 2013 3D prequel was directed by Sam Raimi and stars James Franco, Mila Kunis, Michelle Williams, and Rachel Weisz. The film offers the backstory of The Wizard. Where did he come from and how did he get his reputation for greatness?

Toto's Tale

This picture book by K. D. Hays and Meg Weidman centers on Dorothy's best friend, her sweet Toto. As the distractions and dangers of Oz accumulate, Dorothy seems to be forgetting how much she needs her canine companion. And Toto is making new friends of his own.

Return to Oz

This 1985 adaptation presents a dark take on Dorothy's experiences, complete with aspects of mental illness, like electroshock therapy. A sequel to the original, the imaginative, well-acted film incorporates many of the elements from Baum's later Oz books.

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz & the Marvelous Land of Oz

This gorgeous illustrated volume combines the first two books in the Oz series with manga-style artwork. The crisp, vibrant images seem somehow the perfect complement for Baum's psychedelic fever dream of a story.

We're excited to start curating our next Multiverse collection and we want to hear from you! Please chime in and let us know which classic you'd like to see featured next.

Read more by Ashly Moore Sheldon