FIRST LOOK: James Franco in Sam Raimi's OZ: THE GREAT AND POWERFUL

Oz: The Great and Powerful will focus on a hustler (James Franco) who stumbles upon the land of Oz in his hot air balloon where he discovers real magic and the dangerous witches that wield it.

The Wizard of Oz creator L. Frank Baums' fictional world will be adapted for the big screen once again by director Sam Raimi and screenwriters Mitchell Kapner and David Lindsay-Abaire. Aside from Franco in the title role, the film also stars Mila Kunis, Michelle Williams, Rachel Weisz, Zach Braff and Abigail Breslin. Oz: The Great and Powerful is scheduled to hit theaters March 8, 2013.

The first piece of promotional art for the film has been spotted in Italy, and features Franco as Oz with a hot air balloon behind him: