Sci Fi Updates 'Wizard of Oz' - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Brian Damage · 11-22-2006, 06:39 PM

The Sci Fi Channel is off to see the wizard -- RHI Entertainment that is -- to create a six-hour miniseries based on L. Frank Baum's "The Wizard of Oz."

"Tin Man" (working title) will begin production on its science fiction, psychedelic reimagining of the already bizarre tale in early 2007 in Vancouver, with a projected December 2007 premiere.

In this updated epic tale, a young woman named DG somehow gets snatched up and thrust into the fantastical realm known as The Outer Zone (aka The O.Z) that's currently oppressed by dark magic.

Along the way, she befriends the half-brained man Glitch, the wolverine-like Raw who seeks courage and the emotionally scarred, heroic Cain, who was once part of the police force known as Tin Men in the O.Z. DG is journeying along the Old Road to seek the Mystic Man, but in the end, has a showdown with the wicked Azkeadellia, who has curiously close ties to DG herself.

Casting is currently underway.

Robert Halmi, Sr. and Jr. will executive produce, along with Mitchell and Van Sickle ("The Pretender"). RHI Entertainment previously collaborated with Sci Fi for the 2004 miniseries "Legend of Earthsea," starring Shawn Ashmore, Kristin Kreuk, Danny Glover, and Isabella Rossellini.

The best known version of "The Wizard of Oz" was released in theaters in 1939 and starred Judy Garland as Dorothy Gale. Several other versions, sequels and spinoffs followed, most notably the musical "The Wiz," which was adapted into a film starring Michael Jackson and Diana Ross in 1978, and the recent TV movie "Muppets' Wizard of Oz," starring Ashanti, Jeffrey Tambor and various muppets.

TJL · 11-22-2006, 07:11 PM

Me thinks they won't be singing "Somewhere Over The Rainbow" in this version.

Mr. Television · 11-22-2006, 08:11 PM

Their is only one Wizard Of Oz. The others don't come close.

80sTrivia · 11-22-2006, 10:15 PM

I often wonder why people try to re-make masterpiece films... it very seldom works...

Janice · 11-22-2006, 10:40 PM

Some movies should not be remade. The Wizard of Oz is one of them. It was ahead of its time in 1939. Bad idea.

CheersChild4life · 11-23-2006, 12:11 AM

I will never be able to look at the Wizard of Oz or any remake the same way after seeing Wicked.

comedyfreak · 11-23-2006, 06:36 AM

Why must they keep trying, it's going to be a FLOP! Will they ever learn?

Central Perk · 11-25-2006, 01:43 AM

The Wizard of Oz was a book series before it became a movie. The makers of this film are not trying to remake the classic Judy Garland flick, but are instead adapting the books into a new miniseries. It has been done many a time before with the Oz book series. With that being said I doubt I'll watch the miniseries.

treky · 11-25-2006, 02:17 AM

right; and THE WIZARD OF OZ was just one of the books in the series. L. Frank Baum used to make up these stories about a fictional land to entertain the neighborhood kids. Once; one of them asked him "But Mr. Baum, what's the name of this land"? He paused, looked around the room and saw a file drawer with "O-Z" written on the front. He turned back to the kids and said "OZ. The name of the land is OZ".

hippiechick60 · 11-25-2006, 02:58 PM

yeah i agree i don't think they should be makeing a re make of the wizard of oz i mean why can't they just leave the classics alone! i don't really like re makes of old movies cause sometimes they just ruin it and sometimes they make it better but i think the wizard of oz is just fine they way it is after all these years!

Sterling Holobyte · 12-13-2006, 02:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CheersChild4life

I will never be able to look at the Wizard of Oz or any remake the same way after seeing Wicked.

Why would you believe some guy's remake(or in Wicked's case - stage play) over the original story?

In fact, here's a suggestion for all the writers out there: Leave the originals alone, use that creativity that you tell everyone you have, think up and write your own damn story!!

TJL · 12-13-2006, 07:06 PM

I've been giving this idea some thought, and I'mprobably in the monority here, but I think a remake of "Wizard Of Oz" has some potential.
A few years ago "Spawn" creator Todd McFarlane remade a handful of OZ characters for his toyline, and although they were a bit too "out there" IMO (as is most of the stuff in the McFarlane toys collection), at least it showed that reimagining the characters could be cool.

In fact, many years ago my roommate and I while out drinking (big shocker there) came up with an idea for a "Wizard Of Oz" video game.
We remade Dorothy as a butt kicking Lara Croft type heroine (we played a lot of Tomb Raider back then) travelling to a dark and twisted Oz with lots of strange creatures lurking along the yellow brick road.

If any of my ideas show up in this remake, I'm suing.

11-22-2006, 06:39 PM	#1
Brian Damage I'm Rich Bitch Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 03, 2002 Location: What Ain't No Country I Ever Heard Of...They Speak English in What? Posts: 63,107	Sci Fi Updates 'Wizard of Oz' The Sci Fi Channel is off to see the wizard -- RHI Entertainment that is -- to create a six-hour miniseries based on L. Frank Baum's "The Wizard of Oz." "Tin Man" (working title) will begin production on its science fiction, psychedelic reimagining of the already bizarre tale in early 2007 in Vancouver, with a projected December 2007 premiere. In this updated epic tale, a young woman named DG somehow gets snatched up and thrust into the fantastical realm known as The Outer Zone (aka The O.Z) that's currently oppressed by dark magic. Along the way, she befriends the half-brained man Glitch, the wolverine-like Raw who seeks courage and the emotionally scarred, heroic Cain, who was once part of the police force known as Tin Men in the O.Z. DG is journeying along the Old Road to seek the Mystic Man, but in the end, has a showdown with the wicked Azkeadellia, who has curiously close ties to DG herself. Casting is currently underway. Robert Halmi, Sr. and Jr. will executive produce, along with Mitchell and Van Sickle ("The Pretender"). RHI Entertainment previously collaborated with Sci Fi for the 2004 miniseries "Legend of Earthsea," starring Shawn Ashmore, Kristin Kreuk, Danny Glover, and Isabella Rossellini. The best known version of "The Wizard of Oz" was released in theaters in 1939 and starred Judy Garland as Dorothy Gale. Several other versions, sequels and spinoffs followed, most notably the musical "The Wiz," which was adapted into a film starring Michael Jackson and Diana Ross in 1978, and the recent TV movie "Muppets' Wizard of Oz," starring Ashanti, Jeffrey Tambor and various muppets.
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11-22-2006, 07:11 PM	#2
TJL Suburbanite Extrordinaire Forum Star Join Date: Dec 29, 2001 Location: New Jersey - the cradle of civilization Posts: 16,588	Me thinks they won't be singing "Somewhere Over The Rainbow" in this version.
	__________________ "I think I'll stroll up to the front to see how the shooting's going..." - Capt. Benjamin Franklin "Hawkeye" Pierce Read my blogs! http://centralparkamisguide.com/ http://dvdcriticscorner.com Visit me on Facebook!http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=641138880 Hey, I do the tweet thing too! http://twitter.com/TomLevier My shop of handmade items! http://www.etsy.com/shop/ColdGarageCreations

11-22-2006, 08:11 PM	#3
Mr. Television 23 Years at Sitcoms Online Forum Icon Join Date: Jun 06, 2003 Location: Somewhere you're Not Posts: 62,132	Their is only one Wizard Of Oz. The others don't come close.
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11-22-2006, 10:15 PM	#4
80sTrivia Member Forum Celebrity Join Date: May 23, 2002 Posts: 21,714	I often wonder why people try to re-make masterpiece films... it very seldom works...
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11-23-2006, 06:36 AM	#7
comedyfreak Cheers! Forum Fanatic Join Date: Dec 14, 2005 Location: Sunny California Posts: 11,060	Why must they keep trying, it's going to be a FLOP! Will they ever learn?
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11-22-2006, 10:40 PM	#5
Janice Retired Admin - Hollywood Swingin' Forum Legend Join Date: Aug 03, 2001 Location: Beantown Posts: 36,388	Some movies should not be remade. The Wizard of Oz is one of them. It was ahead of its time in 1939. Bad idea.

11-23-2006, 12:11 AM	#6
CheersChild4life Absolutely Fabulous Senior Member Join Date: Nov 23, 2002 Location: Somwhere Fabulous Posts: 2,814	I will never be able to look at the Wizard of Oz or any remake the same way after seeing Wicked.

11-25-2006, 01:43 AM	#8
Central Perk ~~~~~ Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Jan 10, 2002 Posts: 4,553	The Wizard of Oz was a book series before it became a movie. The makers of this film are not trying to remake the classic Judy Garland flick, but are instead adapting the books into a new miniseries. It has been done many a time before with the Oz book series. With that being said I doubt I'll watch the miniseries.

11-25-2006, 02:17 AM	#9
treky star trek fan Eternal Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Feb 25, 2002 Location: Conshohocken, pennsylvania Posts: 14,490	right; and THE WIZARD OF OZ was just one of the books in the series. L. Frank Baum used to make up these stories about a fictional land to entertain the neighborhood kids. Once; one of them asked him "But Mr. Baum, what's the name of this land"? He paused, looked around the room and saw a file drawer with "O-Z" written on the front. He turned back to the kids and said "OZ. The name of the land is OZ".
	__________________ the Clampetts are in a fancy Beverly Hills jewelry store. Granny points to a tray of rubies. Granny: "How much fer one o' them red diamonds?" clerk: "Madam, those are rubies." Granny: "OK ask her kin we buy one offa her." clerk: " The ruby I am talking about is not a lady." Granny: "Lissen, how she got them diamonds is her business. I'm just sayin' ask her kin we buy one from her."

11-25-2006, 02:58 PM	#10
hippiechick60 Member Forum Regular Join Date: Sep 18, 2006 Location: indiana Posts: 632	yeah i agree i don't think they should be makeing a re make of the wizard of oz i mean why can't they just leave the classics alone! i don't really like re makes of old movies cause sometimes they just ruin it and sometimes they make it better but i think the wizard of oz is just fine they way it is after all these years!

12-13-2006, 07:06 PM	#12
TJL Suburbanite Extrordinaire Forum Star Join Date: Dec 29, 2001 Location: New Jersey - the cradle of civilization Posts: 16,588	I've been giving this idea some thought, and I'mprobably in the monority here, but I think a remake of "Wizard Of Oz" has some potential. A few years ago "Spawn" creator Todd McFarlane remade a handful of OZ characters for his toyline, and although they were a bit too "out there" IMO (as is most of the stuff in the McFarlane toys collection), at least it showed that reimagining the characters could be cool. In fact, many years ago my roommate and I while out drinking (big shocker there) came up with an idea for a "Wizard Of Oz" video game. We remade Dorothy as a butt kicking Lara Croft type heroine (we played a lot of Tomb Raider back then) travelling to a dark and twisted Oz with lots of strange creatures lurking along the yellow brick road. If any of my ideas show up in this remake, I'm suing.