Daniel Radcliffe Got Pitched Wizard of Oz Remake, Emma Watson as Dorothy

Variety

by Zack Sharf

February 19, 2026

AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary

Daniel Radcliffe revealed during a recent interview that he was pitched a remake of *The Wizard of Oz* starring himself as the cowardly lion, Emma Watson as Dorothy, and Rupert Grint in an unnamed role. The pitch, which came during the height of their *Harry Potter* fame, was met with immediate skepticism from Radcliffe, who at just 14 or 15 years old, deemed it a poor idea. He humorously recalled being cast as a karate-kicking lion, calling the concept absurd and ill-timed. The idea of remaking *The Wizard of Oz* has been floated multiple times in Hollywood, with Sam Raimi’s *Oz the Great and Powerful* (2013) being one such attempt. Starring James Franco as the wizard and featuring Mila Kunis, Michelle Williams, and Rachel Weisz as the witches, the film was a moderate box office success but failed to capture the same magic as the original 1939 classic. More recently, the *Wicked* musical adaptations have dominated the big screen, grossing over $1.2 billion worldwide. Radcliffe’s rejection of the pitch highlights the challenges of rebooting beloved classics, especially when tied to nostalgia and fan expectations. His candid remarks about the proposal underscore the importance of discernment in greenlighting projects, particularly those involving iconic characters and properties. While the

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Originally published on Variety on 2/19/2026