Whilst the classic "Wizard of Oz" film will always remain a legend, I'm all for the idea of a mini-series that is a more narratively-accurate adaptation of the classic L. Frank Baum "Oz" books, much like that Margot Kidder-narrated animated series in the 80's.
Well The Sci-Fi Channel is trying its luck with the Oz stories, but in a way you might not have expected. The network has given a green light to "Tin Man", a six-hour original miniseries described as wild SF reimagining of "The Wizard of Oz" reports Sci-Fi Wire.
The story follows DG, a young woman plucked from her humdrum life and thrust into The Outer Zone (the O.Z.), a fantastical realm filled with wonder, but oppressed by dark magic. DG discovers her true identity, battles evil winged monkey-bats and attempts to fulfill her destiny.
Her perilous journey begins on the fabled Old Road that leads to a wizard known as the Mystic Man. Along the way, she is joined by "Glitch," an odd man missing half his brain; "Raw," a quietly powerful wolverine-like creature longing for inner courage; and "Cain," a heroic former policeman (known in the O.Z. as a "Tin Man"), who is seeking vengeance for his scarred heart.
Ultimately, DG's destiny leads her to a showdown with the wicked sorceress Azkadellia, whose ties to DG are closer than anyone could have imagined.
This project is written by Steven Long Mitchell and Craig Van Sickle (The Pretender), shooting is slated to begin early 2007 in Vancouver with a December 2007 release set.
