NBC is bringing a fantasy series that has been compared to "Game of Thrones." A retelling of the classic tale of "The Wizard of Oz," "Emerald City" lends a different tone. It's darker, sexier and scarier. It's definitely not the Oz that most viewers might have loved watching as children.
Leading the cast of "Emerald City" is Adria Arjona, who plays the familiar character of Dorothy Gale. Except, her version of Dorothy is different from Judy Garland as much as the series is also different from the 1939 beloved film or the "Wicked" production on stage.
In this new show, Dorothy isn't a farm girl and how she transports to the world of Oz is depicted as a dazzling twist of dark magic. She's not singing Broadway tunes but instead she's battling warlocks.
The Wizard is played by Vincent D'Onofrio and the evil witch is played by Florence Kasumba. There's nothing quirky about these characters in "Emerald City." Their presence is powerful and commanding.
Dorothy has some sparks with a hunky Scarecrow, who is played by Oliver-Jackson Cohen on "Emerald City." Joely Richardson plays Glinda, the good witch.
We're not in Kansas anymore. Here's your first look at the epic @NBCEmeraldCity. You've never seen Oz like this! https://t.co/eQHLghpH37 pic.twitter.com/NMq15AMwyq
— Access Hollywood (@accesshollywood) November 23, 2016
According to Movie Pilot, "Emerald City" has medieval torture, a sorceress in red, battles for supremacy and a rugged-looking man with long, wild hair. Thus, comparisons to "Game of Thrones" cannot be helped.
"Emerald City" was supposed to have been part of the 2014 TV season development but NBC dropped the project, according to Bustle. The network had a change of heart eventually and proceeded to greenlight the series for its midseason run for 2017.
"Emerald City" will have 10 episodes, all of which were directed by Tarsem Singh, according to its official site. He is well-known for his unique visual style and his trademark is evident in the first teaser NBC released below.
Catch "Emerald City" on NBC, which will premiere on Jan. 6, 2017. Keep tabs on more news and update about this series on this site.
