Off to see the wizard! Queen Latifah and Mary J. Blige will star in NBC's live production of The Wiz

By Kayla Caldwell For Dailymail.com

Published: 22:07 EST, 28 July 2015 | Updated: 22:27 EST, 28 July 2015

In March NBC announced that it would follow up live productions of The Sound Of Music and Peter Pan with The Wiz, set to air December 3.

And on Tuesday People revealed that Queen Latifah and Mary J. Blige have officially joined the upcoming musical's cast.

The pair are the first big names announced so far in the highly-anticipated adaptation of the 1975 Broadway hit.

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On board! It was revealed on Tuesday that Mary J. Blige (L) and Queen Latifah (R) will star in NBC's upcoming live production of The Wiz

On board! It was revealed on Tuesday that Mary J. Blige (L) and Queen Latifah (R) will star in NBC's upcoming live production of The Wiz

Queen Latifah, 45, will star as the wizard, taking on the role played by Richard Pryor in the 1978 film version.

Of the gender-blind casting, executive producers Craig Zadan and Neil Meron gushed: 'To see [Queen Latifah] play the iconic role of the Wiz and make it her own is going to be one of the joys of producing this event.'

Meanwhile, Mary, 44, will take on the role of Evillene, the Wicked Witch of the West, in the production. 

Reboot: The pair will appear in NBC's version of the musical, whose big-screen adaptation featured Michael Jackson, Dianna Ross, and Richard Pryor (1978)

Reboot: The pair will appear in NBC's version of the musical, whose big-screen adaptation featured Michael Jackson, Dianna Ross, and Richard Pryor (1978)

Stephanie Mills, who portrayed Dorothy in the original Broadway cast, will also join NBC's adaptation as Auntie Em.

Dorothy, however, will be played by an unknown, with the network holding an open casting call for the role.

'The story of Dorothy has always been about someone new,' casting director Bernard Tesley said, adding: 'It feels like the innocence of Dorothy should be a face that we don't recognize and don't know.' Auditions began on June 6 in New York City.

Here goes nothing: NBC began their series of live productions with The Sound of Music Live! in December 2013, starring Carrie Underwood and Stephen Moyer

Here goes nothing: NBC began their series of live productions with The Sound of Music Live! in December 2013, starring Carrie Underwood and Stephen Moyer

Cirque du Soleil is overseeing the show's production, and following the December 3 telecast, it will present The Wiz as a Broadway revival for the 2016-17 season. 

The TV production and Broadway revival will be staged by director Kenny Leon and Tony winner Harvey Fierstein.

Of the collaboration NBC Entertainment topper Bob Greenblatt gushed: 'We love this yearly tradition and we're more excited than ever to not only bring another Broadway musical to America's living rooms, but also see it land on Broadway as well.'

Take two: Despite lackluster reviews the network continued with the project, airing Peter Pan Live! - starring Girls' Allison Williams - the following year in December 2014

Take two: Despite lackluster reviews the network continued with the project, airing Peter Pan Live! - starring Girls' Allison Williams - the following year in December 2014

 

 

 

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