The Prime Video series is described as a music-infused young adult retelling of the classic story.
LOS ANGELES — According to Deadline on Tuesday, Gwen Stefani and Blake Shelton are set to serve as executive producers for a modern musical adaptation of “The Wizard of Oz” on Amazon’s Prime Video streaming platform.
The show, entitled “Dorothy,” reinterprets L. Frank Baum’s timeless tales as a music-driven young adult series located in contemporary Manhattan. It employs “the Yellow Brick Road as a metaphor for the trials and decisions that young adults face today,” as per Prime Video’s description.
“Participating in a project that merges music, emotion, and the character of Dorothy offers a creative and fresh twist on a classic, which greatly inspires me,” stated Stefani, who has won three Grammy awards.
Shelton, a nine-time Grammy nominee and country music star, said he immediately recognized the project’s potential.
“I knew right away it was something Gwen would connect with. Her creativity and perspective are such a natural fit for this project,” he said.
The duo, who are married, bring a wealth of television production expertise to this project. Shelton has served as an executive producer for the Hallmark movie series “Time for … to Come Home for Christmas” and USA Network’s “Barmageddon.” Meanwhile, Stefani has been an executive producer for the animated series “Kuu Kuu Harajuku.”
The series is being developed by Gina Matthews, a creator and producer recognized for her work on films like “13 Going on 30” and “Isn’t It Romantic,” and for creating The WB shows “Popular” and “The Mountain.”
“I’ve adored The Wizard of Oz books since my childhood,” Matthews commented in a statement. The narrative delves into themes of resilience and community support throughout Dorothy’s journey.
Additional executive producers include Lee Metzger, Grant Scharbo and Patrick Moran.
No premiere date has been announced for the series. Prime Video has not disclosed casting details or production timeline.
The project announcement comes just ahead of the highly-anticipated “Wicked: For Good” theatrical release on Nov. 21, which is the second part of the origin story of the characters in “The Wizard of Oz” based on the smash Broadway musical.
