SCI FI Channel re-teams again with RHI Ent. (LEGEND OF EARTHSEA), on the six-hour TIN MAN (working title) miniseries to begin production in early 2007 for a December premiere on SCI FI. The wild sci-fi re-imagining of THE WIZARD OF OZ, written by Steven Long Mitchell and Craig Van Sickle (creators of THE PRETENDER), takes a decidedly sci-fi twist on the fantasy classic. To be shot in Vancouver, casting is currently underway.
A sometimes psychedelic, bizarre take on THE WIZARD OF OZ, TIN MAN features DG, a young woman plucked from her humdrum life and thrust into The Outer Zone (the O.Z.) -- a fantastical realm rife with wonder that is 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 -- the Mystic Man. Along the way, she is joined by a strange trio of companions: "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 (who are known in the O.Z. as "tin men") seeking vengeance for his scarred heart. DG's destiny leads her to an emotional and terrifying showdown with the scintillatingly, wicked sorceress Azkadellia.
TIN MAN will be exec produced by Robert Halmi, Sr. and Robert Halmi, Jr. Co-writers Mitchell and Van Sickle (MEDICAL INVESTIGATION, THE PRETENDER) will also be exec producers.
SCI FI previously collaborated with RHI Ent. for the hit 2004 miniseries, LEGEND OF EARTHSEA, starring Shawn Ashmore, Kristin Kreuk, Danny Glover and Isabella Rossellini. The two companies also recently announced a multi-picture production deal wherein RHI will deliver 10 original movies to SCI FI for broadcast in 2007.
RHI Ent. (www.rhifilms.com) is a global leader in the production and distribution of groundbreaking miniseries and movies for television, with offices in New York, Los Angeles, London and Sydney. Since the company's inception, under the guidance of Robert Halmi Sr. and Robert Halmi Jr., RHI has produced and distributed more than 4,000 hours of television programming, received 104 Emmy Awards and outperformed the competition annually in viewer ratings. Currently, RHI provides 40-60 new television movies and miniseries a year to networks worldwide.
SCI FI Channel is a television network where "what if" is what's on. SCI FI fuels the imagination of viewers with original series and events, blockbuster movies and classic science fiction and fantasy programming, as well as a dynamic website (www.scifi.com) and magazine. Launched in 1992, and currently in 86 million homes, SCI FI Channel is a network of NBC Universal, one of the world's leading media and entertainment companies.
