Robert Downey Jr to play Wizard of Oz?

London: Hollywood actor Robert Downey Jr is reportedly set to play the lead in a prequel to `Wizard of Oz`.

The original 1939 movie, starring Judy Garland, became a cinematic classic, while another film based on L Frank Baum`s books, `Return To Oz`, was released by Disney in 1985. The movie-makers are preparing to return to the big screen in a new picture, titled `Oz The Great and Powerful`. The film will be a prequel to the Garland movie, based on Baum`s work, and will tell the story of a young circus magician who ends up ruler of the magical country after crash-landing there in a hot air balloon, reports a news website. Filmmaker Sam Mendes is in talks to direct the picture. IANS