The REAL STORY Behind The Wiz

Fri, 08 May 2026 04:59:39 +0000

In this video, I break down the story behind The Wiz, from its rise on Broadway to its ambitious, complicated journey to the big screen. What started as a bold reimagining of The Wizard of Oz quickly became something much bigger, a story shaped by Motown, Hollywood politics, and shifting power behind the scenes.

We’ll get into how Diana Ross secured the role of Dorothy, why that decision changed the entire direction of the film, and how Michael Jackson found his way into a breakout role that would quietly set up the next phase of his career. From casting tensions and industry pressure to the overlooked role of Stephanie Mills, this is a story about opportunity, timing, and who gets left behind.

This video also explores the making of the film itself, the creative risks, the cultural weight of an all-Black production at that scale, and why its initial reception didn’t match its long-term impact. Because The Wiz wasn’t just a movie, it was a turning point, for the artists involved and for the industry that didn’t quite know what to do with it.

0:00 Intro
0:44 That Michael Jackson
7:45 Oz
9:50 The Origin
13:05 Finding Dorothy
18:15 The Superstar
22:08 Motown
24:55 Diana's Dream
29:04 Michael in New York
33:50 Diana's Freedom
36:28 Assembling a cast
37:38 Michael's Moves
39:01 Getting Close
41:26 Stephanie
43:07 The Story
52:35 Reception
57:20 Home

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