Canadian indie producer Multiple Media Entertainment has pacted with Starz Animation Toronto and Gigapix Studios on the Canadian stereoscopic CG animated feature based on the Frank Baum classic book, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.

The $20 million film, with a working title OZ3D, will be executive produced by Michael Taylor and Drew Craig of MME.

Starz Animation will animate the feature after completing Miramax’s Gnomeo and Juliet, which did well at the international box office.

Starz Animation’s Rob Silvestri will direct OZ3D. His earlier credits include the animated short Ormie, Gnomeo & Juliet and the Tim Burton-produced animated film 9.

Connor Pritchard (Workaholics) penned the script.

MME will handle worldwide distribution for OZ3D, and has already lined up Gigapix Studios to release the picture in the US market through its distribution outfit, Gigapix Releasing.

Gigapix has secured through its own P&A fund a minimum commitment of $10 million for a theatrical release on at least 1,000 screens stateside.

MME has just started casting voices for the animation feature, and is working on Canadian and other foreign distribution deals.