James Franco is to star as the Wizard of Oz in a new Disney retelling of the classic story.

The actor will be joined by fellow Jewish stars Rachel Weisz and Mila Kunis, of Black Swan fame, as the wicked witches of the West and the East.

The film, titled Oz, the Great and Powerful, is to be directed by Spiderman director Sam Raimi.

The story will follow the wizard in the years before Dorothy’s arrival and explain how he came to rule the land of Oz.