Hilary Swank, Williams competing for 'Oz' role

Sam Raimi has reportedly begun a dispute with Disney Pictures over who to cast as the Wicked Witch of the East in his prequel to The Wizard of Oz.

Vulture claims that while Disney are keen to have Blue Valentine star Michelle Williams take on the role, Raimi himself is set on casting Academy Award-winning actress Hilary Swank.

It has already been confirmed that 127 Hours actor James Franco will play the lead role in Raimi's Oz: The Great and Powerful, and Black Swan star Mila Kunis is widely expected to join him as the Wicked Witch of the West.

Raimi previously disagreed with a studio over casting choices when deciding on who would play the lead in his adaptation of Spider-Man, eventually convincing Sony that they should cast Tobey Maguire rather than American Beauty actor Wes Bentley.

The film will be a prequel to L. Frank Baum's classic novel that inspired the popular 1939 film, and will tell the story of the wizard's arrival to Oz.

Oz: The Great and Powerful is scheduled to begin production in July.