Sam Raimi and Disney Battling Over Hilary Swank in Oz, the Great and the Powerful?

It’s starting to look like an evil witch (or two) have put a curse on Sam Raimi’s Oz: The Great and Powerful, but Vulture reports that its just Disney getting into an ugly power-play with the director.

Things seemed to be going smoothly at first, with James Franco and Mila Kunis sliding into the roles of the Wizard and the witch Theodora, but then Blake Lively opted for Oliver Stone’s Savages, causing the hunt for witches to continue. Raimi wants Hilary Swank as one of the elder witches but Disney is putting their foot down and pushing the director to offer the role to Michelle Williams. Why is the studio leaning towards a two-time Oscar nominee instead of the two-time Oscar winner? It’s a good question, and one Raimi might not bother asking.

During the filming of the first Spider-Man film, the studio wanted Wes Bentley for the role of Spider-Man/Peter Parker but Raimi insisted on Tobey Maguire, and we all know how that little battle ended. Will the director have the same type of luck this time around or will Williams soon be offered the role? One thing that’s certain is that Raimi needs to play his cards right and put his foot down at just the right time because another casting choice could also soon be up in the air. John C. Reilly was being looked at as the Wizard’s sidekick, but now there’s a good chance Reilly will be taking part in The Hunger Games instead.

Who would you rather see as a witch? Hilary Swank or Michelle Williams?