If you’re like me, then you’re a Wizard of Oz fan. A big one. The kind that buys symphony tickets to see an orchestra perform the music live while the film plays on the big screen. That whole world is so utterly fantastical and fascinating, so the prospect of so many new Oz-related projects (that have nothing to do with prison) is pretty incredible. Sam Raimi’s own little corner in the county and the land of Oz, titled Oz The Great and Powerful, just got a little bit more interesting as Mila Kunis signed on to play the Wicked Witch of the West. That piece of the puzzle also finally secured James Franco in the leading role. Sorry to disappoint anyone who read the headline and though, “She-Hulk! Finally!” According to Vulture, there’s an intriguing back story to all of it, specifically related to Kunis turning down a leading role in Akira in order to do this one (and Warners offering the iconic role of Kaneda to, seriously, of all people, Brad Pitt). How can they go wrong here? They have two great actors (one of whom we just learned was a great actor), and with any luck, Raimi’s take on the story of the land before Dorthy will be just as colorful as Baum’s novels. Kunis was such a raw, malevolent force in Black Swan, so it’ll be pretty cool to see her transform into the character delivered with such salt by Margaret Hamilton back in 1939. Bring out

If it’s even possible to reboot a reboot (and that’s essentially what Evil Dead 2 was for its originator), Sam Raimi is willing to try it. Of course, he’s been willing for a long time, but that’s never translated into results before. What makes this situation different? Nothing. However, according to Digital Spy, the director/producer’s business partner Rob Tapert claimed recently that he’s looking at a script for what would be either a reboot or a fourth installment in the franchise. The money quote: “What’s interesting about Evil Dead is very few people saw it in the format we made it for, which is for the theater… I think Sam wants to embrace the ultimate experience in grueling terror and see it remade for a proper theatrical experience.” That’s interesting, considering that the fan base has opportunities every so often to see the original on the big screen at festivals and special second run screenings. The world needs another Evil Dead movie like it needs another hand chopped off (although the success of 127 Hours might be the catalyst for the renewed interest here). Tapert mentioned that Bruce Campbell would be involved, which would be great, but this feels like a Crystal Skull situation. Let’s hope Raimi continues his streak of talking about it without actually doing it.

There are too many books and movies out there using the destruction of mankind as a theme. There are dozens that are good. There are only a handful that are iconic. “The Day of the Triffids” is one of the icons. It’s been adapted several times before, but always in the UK (and during times when that stuff didn’t necessarily make it over in broad strokes to our shores (like 2009)). The 1962 version is perhaps the most famous, but even it diverges from the book in a few significant ways that neuter the story’s impact. Fortunately, it looks like (after a bidding war where Mandate came out on top) Sam Raimi is going to have a go at it. Yes, there’s a subtlety to it all that Raimi will have trouble finding while a tree rapes a woman, but overall the guy is a talented filmmaker who certainly has passion for the genre and the title itself.

When the calendar page turns to October, we Rejects have only one thought: horror. To celebrate this grandest and darkest of months, we’ll cover one excellent horror film a day for the entirety of the month. That’s 31 Days of Horror and 31 Films perfect for viewing on a dark, chilly, October night. If you, like us, love horror and Halloween, give us a Hell Yeah and keep coming every day this month for a new dose of adrenaline. Synopsis: The night shift at a local grocery store are thrown into a tizzy when the ex-boyfriend of one of the cashiers shows up and starts some trouble. When employees start turning up dead, the minor scuffle escalates into a fight for life and death. (Death wins, for the most part)

When Anchor Bay announced they were bringing two awesome horror movies to Blu-ray, we knew it’d be mighty swell of us to share them with you. The Bruce Campbell-starring, Sam Raimi-when-he-was-good directed classic The Evil Dead makes its debut on Blu-ray with a few new features. Also on high definition for the first time is director Adam Green’s 80s throwback slasher Hatchet, which features a villain who could hold his own with the likes of Freddy and Jason. So if you want to win yourself a set of these Blu-rays, click on through to find out what to do. (Hint: We’ll need a blood sample.)

As I’m sure we all know by now, fan favorite director Guillermo del Toro has vacated the position as director of The Hobbit. That leaves the production with a big hole to fill. Which leaves us with plenty of room for idle speculation, guessing and (hopefully) something that seems like a logical path for the future of The Hobbit.

With a story based on actual events, can Milla Jovovich casting news be far off?

Drew McWeeny over at Hit Fix broke the news today that Sony Pictures has pretty much locked in Percy Jackson star Logan Lerman as their Peter Parker in the Spider-Man reboot. It marks another step in a big change for the Spider-Man franchise. A big change that was spurred on by the failures of Sam Raimi.

Everyone’s favorite web-slinger has found a new hope.

Do you enjoy swordfights, ancient Rome, and boobs? I thought so. Those are the main ingredients of Spartacus: Blood and Sand which premieres January 22nd on Starz.

Sony Pictures works fast. Just a day and a half ago, they announced the death of Spider-Man 4. Now we’re getting reports of a new director, and a new format.

Reports are coming in from Nikki Finke and her new man-about-NYC Mike Fleming at Deadline that Spider-Man 4, as we know it now, is dead in the water.

That’s if Italian football shows are to be trusted for movie news.

Movieline may have just scored one of the biggest scoops of the late year. Either that, or they’re about to be the biggest turkeys of the late year in movie news.

This week’s Culture Warrior gives an exhaustive review of the decade that you won’t find anywhere else on the Interwebs.

Now to see if they’ll play it as a double feature with Spider-Man 4…

This one goes out to those of you who are clamoring for a sequel to this year’s sci-fi surprise District 9.

Yesterday I presented you with a list of Five Actresses Who Should Play The Black Cat in Spider-Man 4, and no where on there did I mention Anne Hathaway. That said, it seems as if Marvel and Sony Pictures aren’t listening to me.

Someone on the inside is talking, and they’re talking about Spider-Man 4. And leave it to us to be last on the block to hear this ice cream truck ‘o fun.

It is safe to assume that the plot details and casting for Sony’s upcoming comic adventure Spider-Man 4 will not be kept secret for too much longer, but we’re still taking rumors with a grain of salt.