Tarsem Singh to Direct All 10 Episodes of NBC's EMERALD CITY

TV Tarsem Singh Emerald City NBC about 9 years agoby Ben Pearson

NBC pulled the plug on its Wizard of Oz-themed series Emerald City last year (remember when there were like 5 different Oz-style projects in the works?), but now it's been resurrected with new showrunner David Schulner. For those who have never heard of the project or don't know what it's about, here's the synopsis:

In the blink of a tornado’s eye, 20-year-old Dorothy Gale and her K9 police dog are transported to another world, one far removed from our own — a mystical land of competing kingdoms, lethal warriors, dark magic and a bloody battle for supremacy. This is the fabled Land of Oz in a way you’ve never seen before, where wicked witches don’t stay dead for long and a young girl becomes a headstrong warrior who holds the fate of kingdoms in her hands.

With a good script and a worthy visual style, I can see how this series could have some potential. Well, according to Deadline, it may have the visual part taken care of, because they've just hired director Tarsem Singh to helm all ten episodes in its first season. Singh most recently directed the underwhelming Self/Less, which lacked any of the glorious visuals seen in The Cell and The Fall, so I'm hoping he gets his groove back with this series and presents some of the lush, breathtaking imagery for which he's known.

The cast is full of people I've never heard of: Adria Arjona plays Dorothy, Jackson Cohen plays Lucas (this show's take on The Scarecrow), Ana Ularu plays West (the Wicked Witch), and Gerran Howell plays Jack. Screencrush provides full character descriptions:

DOROTHY GALE | A natural, and not waify, beauty scarred by past experiences, Dorothy has patched a life together for herself despite the fact that she sells herself short. Outward insecurity and lack of self-awareness hide the savior survivor that she will discover she truly is.

WEST | This 30something femme is a corruptive — and fearsome — force of nature, a drugged-out virtuoso filled with self-loathing. She’s equal parts compelling and unsettling.

NORTH | In her 30s or 40s, this Type-A manipulative perfectionist has a bit of a “big sister” relationship to West.

HENRY | The series’ male romantic lead, this handsome and well-built gent presents a seemingly open nature that belies a bit of a past. #Denry

THE WIZARD | On the exterior, this 40something male is a charismatic and politically astute leader, earnest in his beliefs and intentions but also an “ends justify the means” sort. His showmanship however conceals a dangerous, and perhaps deadly, seriousness.

EAMONN | The Wizard’s righthand man is unquestioningly loyal. A strong, silent type.

TIP | All of 15 and harboring a secret past, this lass is undergoing the discomfort of discovering her sexuality.

JACK | Tip’s neighbor and closest friend, an adventurous and energetic teen.

OJO | A member of the Munja’kin, a primitive and isolated cross-pollinated culture, this stoic and fearsome man (mid-30s to early 40s) is rather unsympathetic to Dorothy’s plight.