James Franco takes Mila Kunis in his arms as the Emerald City threatens to fall in new stills from Oz: The Great and Powerful

When Oscar Diggs, a small-time circus magician with dubious ethics, is hurled away from dusty Kansas to the vibrant Land of Oz, he thinks he's hit the jackpot.
The story of the young man who becomes the great wizard is the tale soon to be brought to life on the big screen in forthcoming fantasy film Oz: The Great and Powerful.
New stills from the film show James Franco taking on the role, as he meets three witches, Theodora (Mila Kunis), Evanora (Rachel Weisz) and Glinda (Michelle Williams), and tries to convince them he is the man the Emerald City has been expecting.

 

Feast for the eyes: James Franco stars as Oscar Diggs, the young Wizard of Oz, has he grabs the hand of Theodora, played by Mila Kunis, in Oz: The Great and Powerful

The film imagines the origins of L. Frank Baum's beloved wizard character.
Fantastical stills show Franco enchanted as he meets Glinda, who imparts the epic problems facing the Land of Oz and the great duties that lie ahead to save its inhabitants.

 

Oscar must find out who is good and who is evil before it is too late, and thus embarks on a journey through the dark forest. At times he's accompanied by a winged monkey, Finley, voiced by Zach Braff.

Good and evil: Kunis plays Theodora, Wicked Witch Of The West, who wants peace in the Land of Oz

Smoke billows from behind a hill miles beyond a hill, and Oscar stands at a fork in the yellow brick road.
On his journey he also meets China Girl, a doll voiced by Joey King.
Michelle Williams radiates purity as Glinda the Good Witch of the North, and is seen reading stories to young children in the Land of Oz, who sit around her in whimsical costume.

Fork in the road: Franco comes to an impasse on the yellow brick road with a monkey named Finley, voiced by Zach Braff

The Dark Forest: Finley and China Girl, voiced by Joey King, near the home of the Wicked Witch of the East

Putting his magical arts to use through illusion, ingenuity - and even a bit of wizardry - Oscar transforms himself not only into the great wizard but into a better man with her guidance.
Mila Kunis plays Theodora, Wicked Witch Of The West, while fellow brunette Rachel Weisz is her older sister Evanora, Wicked Witch Of The East.
Evanora has established herself as royal adviser to Emerald City and is protective of her naive, younger sister Theodora, who wants peace in the land of Oz, and is seen in another image being taken by the hand of Oscar as they run through an enchanted forest.

Pure: Michelle Williams plays Glinda the Good Witch of the North

The Emerald City: Glinda reads to children in whimsical costume within its gates

Horror: An evil presence looms over Munchkin Land

Searching for answers: Oscar and Finley stumble upon an unexpected find

What is this? The characters are disturbed by a mysterious sight

The film, which is directed by Sam Raimi, is a nod to 1939 classic The Wizard of Oz, starring Judy Garland as Dorothy Gale, a farm girl who stumbles into The Land of Oz when her home is carried away by a tornado in a dream.
Raimi's follow-up, Oz: The Great and Powerful is due for theatrical release on March 8.

Heading to theatres: Oz: The Great and Powerful is scheduled for release on March 8