Animated 'Oz' Movie in the Works From Warner Bros., 'Madagascar' Writer (Exclusive)

The feature will focus on Dorothy's trip to Oz from her dog Toto's perspective.

Warner Bros. is developing an animated Wizard of Oz retelling, working with veteran scribe Mark Burton.

Burton will adapt Toto, a children's book by War Horse writer Michael Morpurgo, which tells the story of Dorothy's trip through Oz from her faithful dog's perspective.

The movie from Warner Animation Group will be executive produced by Jared Stern and Winsor Yuan through their A Stern Talking To banner. Stern worked with Warner Bros. as a writer on the Lego Batman and Lego Ninjago pics.

Burton often works with the U.K.'s Aardman Studios, having written the studio's last two features — Shaun the Sheep and Early Man. His other writing credits include Gnomeo & Juliet and Madagascar. He is repped by UTA, the U.K.'s Berlin Associates and McKuin Frankel.

Warner Animation Group is currently developing a new Cat in the Hat animated movie and Lego spinoff movie The Billion Brick Race from Book of Life director Jorge Gutierrez.