When people think of Wizard of Oz prequel, a story that expands the world of Oz before Dorothy’s tornado ride. Also known as Oz backstory, it refers to any narrative that explores the land of Oz before the famous 1939 movie—whether through books, films, or stage adaptations. Most assume the Wizard was always a fraud in a balloon, and the Scarecrow always wanted a brain. But the real history starts decades earlier, in the mind of L. Frank Baum, who wrote the first Oz book in 1900. His original Wizard of Oz wasn’t a movie—it was a children’s novel, and it didn’t even include the ruby slippers.
The Baum's Oz books, a 14-book series that expanded the magical world of Oz beyond the first story. Also known as Oz literary universe, it introduced characters like the Tin Woodman, the Cowardly Lion, and Glinda the Good Witch long before Hollywood got involved. These books weren’t just sequels—they were world-building experiments. Baum kept adding new regions, rulers, and magic systems, turning Oz into a full fantasy realm. Later adaptations, like the 2013 film Oz the Great and Powerful, pulled directly from these early books, not the movie. That’s why the Wizard in the prequel film looks so different from the one in 1939—he’s closer to Baum’s original, a traveling showman who stumbled into power.
The Oz movie origins, the evolution of Oz from silent films to Technicolor epics. Also known as Oz film history, it’s a story of studio politics, budget cuts, and accidental classics. MGM didn’t set out to make a timeless masterpiece—they bought the rights to Baum’s book because they needed a family film to compete with Disney. The 1939 version became iconic, but it erased much of the original lore. The Wizard of Oz prequel films and TV shows that followed later tried to fix that. They dug into the books, revived forgotten characters like the Nome King, and gave the Wicked Witch of the West a real backstory instead of just being evil for the sake of it.
What you’ll find in the posts below isn’t just a list of prequels. It’s a map of how Oz grew—from a single book into a cultural myth. You’ll see how fans and filmmakers kept reinventing the world, why some prequels stuck and others vanished, and how the real magic wasn’t in the yellow brick road, but in the people who kept writing it. Whether you care about the books, the films, or just why the Wizard’s balloon looks different in every version, you’ll find the answers here.
Wicked in London is the hit musical that reimagines The Wizard of Oz as a powerful story of friendship, identity, and standing up to prejudice. With stunning visuals, unforgettable songs, and a message that still resonates today, it's a must-see West End experience.