Tony Winner Cast In ’Tin Man’ Miniseries from RHI Entertainment Production Slated to Begin in March

PASADENA, Calif. January 12, 2007 SCI FI Channel has cast Tony winner Alan Cumming (Cabaret, Anniversary Party, X-Men 2) in its upcoming six-hour miniseries Tin Man (working title) from RHI Entertainment. The wildly re-imagined sci-fi fantasy take on Frank Baum’s classic book, The Wizard of Oz is slated to begin production in Vancouver this spring for a December premiere.

Cumming will take on the role of "Glitch," one of a motley assortment of colorful characters trapped in the Outer Zone (the O.Z.).

A sometimes psychedelic, often twisted and always outrageous take on the book, SCI FI’s Tin Man is the epic tale of DG, a young woman plucked from her humdrum life and thrust into The Outer Zone (the O.Z.) a fantastical realm rife with wonder, but oppressed by dark magic. In the adventure of a lifetime, 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 known as the Mystic Man. Along the way, she is joined by a decidedly 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 (known in the O.Z. as tin men, for their tin badges) seeking vengeance for his scarred heart. Ultimately, DG’s destiny leads her to an emotional and terrifying showdown with the scintillatingly wicked sorceress Azkadellia, whose ties to DG are closer than anyone could have imagined. DG’s life, as well as the very future of the O.Z., hangs in the balance.

Alan Cumming recently made a successful return to the West End in Bent, for which he garnered a Best Actor nomination from the What’s On Stage People’s Choice Awards. He also received an Independent Spirit Award nomination for Best First Feature for the film Sweet Land, in which he starred and for which he also served as a producer. The movie has earned audience awards at nearly every film festival in which it has played. He will next be seen in the feature films Gray Matters with Heather Graham, Molly Shannon and Debbie Harry, and Suffering Man’s Charity, which he directed, produced and stars in with Carrie Fisher, Anne Heche, David Boreanaz and Henry Thomas. He will also be featured in the Broadway documentary Show Business. His previous feature film credits include Eyes Wide Shut, Circle of Friends and Goldeneye.

Tin Man will be executive produced by Robert Halmi, Sr. and Robert Halmi, Jr. Co-writers Steven Long Mitchell and Craig Van Sickle (Medical Investigation, The Pretender) will also serve as executive producers on the project.