The Wiz old for the part. However, she contacted Rob Cohen of Universal Pictures, who offered to have them finance the film if she were to play Dorothy, at which point he acquiesced. The resulting film version of "The Wiz" also starred former Motown star Michael Jackson as the Scarecrow, Nipsey Russell as the Tin Man, Richard Pryor as the Wizard, jazz singer Thelma Carpenter as Miss One (the name "Addapearle" was not used for this production) and Lena Horne as Glinda. Ted Ross and Mabel King reprised their roles of the Lion and Evillene from the Broadway production. Sidney Lumet served
Diana Ross Sings Songs from The Wiz response to the film. Ross recorded new versions of "Be a Lion" and "Home" for the album, together with a previously unreleased song, "Wonder, Wonder Why". "Home" had been released as part of a 2001 Motown compilation album, while a different version of "Ease on Down the Road" had been released in 1978 as a duet with Michael Jackson. All other tracks remained unreleased until 2015. The reissue was remastered and produced by Andrew Skurow, George Solomon, and Harry Weinger. The album was released ahead of the premiere of "The Wiz Live!" (a new adaptation of the 1975 Broadway musical)