"Dust Bunny" Director Challenges "Wizard of Oz" Ending, Aims for Family-Friendly R-Rating

In the lead-up to the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival, director Bryan Fuller's new dark fantasy film "Dust Bunny" has generated significant buzz. The film, which premiered at TIFF on Tuesday and is slated for theatrical release in December, follows a young girl who asks her neighbor to help her kill the monster under her bed that has eaten her family.

Fuller, the creator behind acclaimed shows like "Hannibal" and "Pushing Daisies," has a bone to pick with a classic cinema staple - "The Wizard of Oz." He expressed his frustration with the 1939 film's suggestion that Dorothy Gale's trip to Oz might have been a dream, saying, "No, she went to Oz! It happened. Don't take that away from us!"

In contrast, "Dust Bunny" aims to make the fantasy world feel real and immersive for viewers. Veteran actress Sigourney Weaver, who stars in the film, revealed that she "fell in love with the script" and found the world "enchanting" and "filled with hope."

Despite the film's sometimes dark subject matter, Weaver believes it maintains a strong family appeal. In fact, Fuller hopes "Dust Bunny" will be the first R-rated movie that parents take their children to see, as he intended it to be a family-friendly story. The director's message to parents is to watch the film first, then take their kids to a weekend matinee, as they will find it "actually appropriate" for the whole family.