UPDATE 11/23/16: NBC has released the first trailer for “Emerald City,” a 10-episode TV series reimagining of the classic Frank L. Baum books that have inspired everything from “The Wizard Of Oz” to “Wicked.”
In it, Florence Kasumba – who became a social media sensation thanks to her very brief appearance in “Captain America: Civil War” earlier this year, and who will also appear in the upcoming “Black Panther” movie – plays the Wicked Witch of the East in “Emerald City.” She’s barely in the trailer, but given how much excitement there was over her casting in the upcoming series as well as the below first look image released over the summer, I’m sure many of you would love to see the trailer as well.
Watch it below, and catch up on the project’s history underneath:
NBC has given a 10-episode straight-to-series order for “Emerald City,” a reimagining of the classic Frank L. Baum books that have inspired everything from “The Wizard Of Oz” to “Wicked.”
Based on the 14-book series that first created the Land of Oz, “Emerald City” is described as a dramatic and modern retelling of the tales that include lethal warriors, competing kingdoms, and the infamous wizard as we’ve never seen him before. A head-strong 20-year-old Dorothy Gale is unwittingly sent on an eye-opening journey that thrusts her into the center of an epic and bloody battle for the control of Oz.
Writer Matt Arnold and Josh Friedman will serve as executive producers. Universal Television is the production company.
The series was actually ordered 2 years ago, and is now finally becoming a TV reality.
The cast includes Adria Arjona as Dorothy Gale; Ana Ularu as West; Gerran Howell as Jack; Joely Richardson as Glinda; Jordan Loughran as Tip; Mido Hamada as Eamonn; Oliver Jackson Cohen as Lucas a.k.a The Scarecrow; Vincent D’Onofrio as The Wizard of Oz; and Florence Kasumba as the Wicked Witch of the East.
Kasumba became a social media sensation thanks to her brief appearance in “Captain America: Civil War” earlier this year, playing a Dora Milaje (a.k.a. the Adored Ones) – the Wakandan women who serve as Black Panther’s bodyguards (see the image below from the scene in which she appears).
Of course fanboys/girls are now wondering whether Kasumba’s character is actually going to be more significant in the Marvel universe down the road – specifically, in the upcoming Black Panther movie, playing a key character that will be revealed eventually.
The German actress of Ugandan descent will also be seen in the upcoming “Wonder Woman” movie. She lives primarily in Berlin, but has done work on multiple continents. Something tells me that, given audience reactions to her commanding moment in “Captain America” and a more prominent role in the upcoming “Emerald City,” Ms. Kasumba might be on the verge of becoming a Hollywood favorite!
NBC has released more photos from “Emerald City,” teasing a whole different take on the material. Of most interest to us is the above image of Kasumba in costume/character as the Wicked Witch of the East.
With Tarsem Singh directing the series, it should, at the very least, be visually stunning. And maybe the above image is an indication of that.
NBC has yet to set a premiere date for the series.
