The Wizard of Oz is coming up on its 75th anniversary. Don't you think it's about time for a remake? Me neither. Never. But a TV show inspired by the classic film based on L. Frank Baum's book? Done right, that could work. CBS has reportedly put a drama in development that's "inspired by the characters and themes from The Wizard of Oz." Interestingly enough, it's also described as a medical soap set in New York City.
Deadline reported the news, stating that CBS has put Dorothy into development and that Elementary executive producers Carl Beverly and Sarah TImberman are behind the project. That seems appropriate, given the success CBS has had with Elementary, which also happens to be a modern-day TV series based on classic literary characters. Ghost Whisperer's Emily Fox will pen the script and also executive produce.
We don't have a whole lot to go on in terms of the premise, beyond the setting - New York City - that it's a medical drama, and that it's inspired by the characters and themes from The Wizard of Oz. If I were to guess how a TV show with that set-up would work, I'd speculate that it centers on a young intern from Kansas who dreams of getting out of her small town and maybe some storm-related situation sends her to New York where she meets a variety of different doctors and medical types dealing with their own personal issues. Insert the obvious character set-ups for the brain-lacking Scarecrow, the Tinman in need of a better bedside manner, and the cowardly lion. There'd also be the various witches (some good, some bad) and the great and powerful Oz, who's probably a bit of a hack. With that in mind, it's not so difficult to see how a concept like this could work. And without being a straight-up remake of The Wizard of Oz, the drama could have fun with the premise and the opportunity to pay homage to the story without necessarily being a full-on adaptation.
As Deadline points out, Syfy is developing their own Wizard of Oz inspired project, a miniseries titled Warrios of Oz that's described as a fantasy-action reimagining. And it won't be the first Oz project for Syfy. Back when they were Scifi, they aired Tin Man, a sci-fi take on the classic story, which starred Zooey Deschanel as DG (Dorothy Gale).
So there are a few Oz-related projects in the works, and we'll have to wait and see whether or not Dorothy makes it to pilot, and then of course who's cast as the lead. In the meantime, fans of the original film will get to see it return to theaters in 3D and IMAX next month.
