SCI-FI Digital Media Press Tour: Tin Man preview

We're still a long ways away from it December 2007 air date but the gaggle of reporters on the tour were given a very special treat at the end of their tour, a first look at the SCI FI Channel original miniseries, Tin Man. Airing in three two-hour episodes, Tin Man is a re-imagining of The Wizard of Oz. The group was treated to conceptual art and a screening of the trailer, neither of which had been seen by anyone outside of the SCI FI Channel Company until that day.

The miniseries is a sometimes psychedelic, often twisted and always bizarre take on The Wizard of Oz. It centers on 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. SCI FI WIRE

There are A LOT of different things about this SCI FI version. As Mark Stern, SCI FI Original Programming, said, this version bears no resemblance in any way, shape, or form to the 1939 movie. For example, the lollypop kids are chucked out the window and replaced by a guild of warriors living high up in the trees of the O.Z. (Mark used the term Ewok-like forest dwelling race but I don't hold it against him). Likely, the only callback to that film would be in the opening sequence when DG, late for work, arrives at her job at a diner and puts on her uniform, a replica of the Dorothy Gale dress from said film.

This version has a strong fantasy element to it and is a bit darker than I expected. We're going for a PG to PG-13 rating though as this is going to air during the holiday season and the target audience is the 11 to 18 demographic, but it is also something that parents can watch too. There is also a technical element to this version. It's sometimes cyber-punk, sometimes steam punk.

There is also supposed to be a scene in the film taking place a the Twister Club, in Central City, where our travelers meet the Mystic Man, played by Richard Dreyfuss. Angus Strathie, the Oscar winning costume designer for 'Moulin Rouge!' lends his expertise to the film, something that Mark said is very awesome. We're also going to see a lot of design elements that Mark said incorporate such influences at Albert Spear, The Matrix and dashes of Lord of the Rings. Mark says that a lot of the design is twisted just enough that when you think you've got an influence pinned down it goes just that bit further to keep it new.

The main cast is as follows; Kathleen Robertson is Azkadellia, the Wicked Witch of the West. Zooey Deschanel plays our heroine, DG. Alan Cumming plays the man with out a brain but has a zipper atop his head where it once was, Glitch. Richard Dreyfuss as stated before is the Mystic Man. Neal McDonough plays Cain, a former Tin Man of the O.Z, And Raoul Trujillo is Raw, the version of the Lion, his race of people are seers and psychics and have been captured by Azkadellia to help her see into the future.

Probably the only cringe-inducing thing about this whole preview is referring to this mystical and magical land as The O.Z. Whoever I have told this to suddenly has that look on their face like they've just seen their best mate get kicked in the pills. They squint their eyes. They purse their lips and say, 'Ooooooooh'. The ghosts of teen dramas past still haunt these halls. There is an inherent risk in adapting or re-imagining anything that has a devout following, or has a place in lot of people's hearts, as The Wizard of Oz does. Yet the folks at SCI FI have forged ahead and created their own unique take on the story.

Come December we'll know if the risks have paid off.