Report: Director Sam Raimi decides to start work on Disney film first instead of WoW flick

It's being reported Sam Raimi has decided to work on the film he has inked with Disney first, before moving on to the World of Warcraft film.

According to Deadline (via CVG), the film is Disney's Wizard of Oz 3D prequel, Oz: The Great And Powerful, which Raimi became attached to in June. It's being hoped Robert Downey, Jr. will star in it.

Raimi was tagged as director by Legendary Pictures, which owns the rights to a film version of World of Warcraft, and after dropping out of doing Spider-Man 4, both Legendary and Diseny were hot on his tail for each studio's respective film.

Looks as though Raimi has made his choice, as the Oz flick is expected to start production next year.

Last we heard on the WoW film, progress was slow, but still happening.

We'll send a mail and see if Raimi is still tied to the film or not, if it has now been put on hold, or if another director is being considered.

Thanks, Joystiq.