Acclaimed actress Zooey Deschanel (Failure to Launch, All the Real Girls) has been cast as the lead in SCI FI Channel’s upcoming six-hour miniseries “Tin Man” (working title) from RHI Entertainment. The wildly re-imagined fantasy take on Frank Baum’s classic book, “The Wizard of Oz,” is slated to begin production next month in Vancouver and will premiere in December.
Deschanel will take on the role of DG, a young woman plucked from her humdrum life and thrust into The Outer Zone (the O.Z.) a fantastical realm rife with wonder, but oppressed by dark magic. She joins Alan Cumming (previously announced), who plays “Glitch,” one of a motley assortment of colorful characters trapped in the O.Z.
A sometimes psychedelic, often twisted and always outrageous take on the book, SCI FI’s “Tin Man” follows DG on the adventure of a lifetime. Plunged headlong into another world, DG (Deschanel) must discover her true identity, battle evil winged-monkey-bats, and attempt 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 a decidedly strange trio of companions “Glitch,” (Cumming) 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 Tin Men, for their tin badges) seeking vengeance for his scarred heart. Ultimately, DG’s destiny leads her to an emotional and terrifying showdown with the scintillatingly wicked sorceress Azkadellia, whose ties to DG are closer than anyone could have imagined. DG’s life, as well as the very future of the O.Z., hangs in the balance.
“Tin Man” will be executive produced by Robert Halmi, Sr. and Robert Halmi, Jr. Co-writers Steven Long Mitchell and Craig Van Sickle (“Medical Investigation,” “The Pretender”) will also serve as executive producers on the project. Nick Willing (Jason & The Argonauts, Alice in Wonderland) will direct.
