Tarantino to join Muppets
on journey to Oz

'Kill Bill' director to play himself
in TV version of classic tale

Frederick M. Brown / Getty Images file	Director/actor Quentin Tarantino will make a cameo appearance in a new ABC-TV movie featuring the Muppets and based on the classic tale “The Wizard of Oz”.

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updated 10:06 p.m. ET Aug. 26, 2004

LOS ANGELES - Blood-and-guts director Quentin Tarantino may be going soft.

The “Kill Bill” and “Pulp Fiction” director will make a cameo appearance in a new ABC-TV movie featuring the Muppets and based on the classic tale “The Wizard of Oz,” ABC announced Thursday.

The film, with the working title “The Muppets’ Wonderful Wizard of Oz,” is set to begin production in Vancouver, British Columbia, next month and air in the coming TV season on “The Wonderful World of Disney.”

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Tarantino’s role as himself is likely to be overshadowed by pop star Ashanti, starring as Dorothy, and Miss Piggy. The muppet will play three wicked witches and Glinda, Good Witch of the South.

Among other muppets, Kermit the Frog is the Scarecrow, the Great Gonzo is the Tin Man and Fozzie Bear is the Lion. Besides Ashanti as Dorothy, the film features actress-singer Queen Latifah playing Auntie Em.

Described by the network as a “madcap adventure,” the project is based on L. Frank Baum’s “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.” Judy Garland played Dorothy in the famed 1939 film version, while Diana Ross starred in 1978’s “The Wiz.”