Lost in Oz
Encyclopedia
Lost in Oz is a 2002 television pilot
for a planned series, an original sequel to The Wizard of Oz
, inspired by the Oz books of L. Frank Baum
. The series was planned to start September 1, 2002 but was cancelled, perhaps because the special effects required for each episode would have been too expensive. The pilot was made, but not released to television. An unfinished (some of the special effects are not complete) version has leaked onto DVD and VHS and has been sold many times on the bootlegger's market, and has since appeared on YouTube
.
The pilot was written by David Hayter
, screenwriter of the first two X-Men
films, and directed by Mick Garris
. Many fans erroneously assume that Tim Burton
was involved with this production, as Burton was going to make a movie called Lost in Oz
in 2000, but the project was shelved before it was filmed. It does seem that the story was reused for this TV pilot.
Contrary to some fans' ideas, Lost in Oz was in no way based on or referred to Disney's Return to Oz
.
) after a cyclone hurls her into the Land of Oz
. She meets World War II soldier Caleb Jansen (Colin Egglesfield
), and is given the task of rescuing Princess Ozma
from the new Wicked Witch of the West
, Loriellidere (Mia Sara). They are joined by Serena, the Patchwork Girl
(Sandra Allen), who guides them to Loriellidere's labyrinth. In the labryinth, they find Ozma with Loriellidere, who attempts to kill them, but is held at gunpoint by Caleb, when Alexandra realizes that if the witch dies, she will take her place. Instead, Alexandra uses a gift from Bellardrie (Lynn Whitfield
), the Good Witch of the South, to defeat the witch: a glass bottle containing a cyclone. Unfortunately, the cyclone was to be used to return Alex to Kansas. She and Caleb are lost in Oz, Alex possessing some of the Witch's magic, and hoping for a chance to return home.
Television pilot
A "television pilot" is a standalone episode of a television series that is used to sell the show to a television network. At the time of its inception, the pilot is meant to be the "testing ground" to see if a series will be possibly desired and successful and therefore a test episode of an...
for a planned series, an original sequel to The Wizard of Oz
The Wizard of Oz (1939 film)
The Wizard of Oz is a 1939 American musical fantasy film produced by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. It was directed primarily by Victor Fleming. Noel Langley, Florence Ryerson and Edgar Allan Woolf received credit for the screenplay, but there were uncredited contributions by others. The lyrics for the songs...
, inspired by the Oz books of L. Frank Baum
L. Frank Baum
Lyman Frank Baum was an American author of children's books, best known for writing The Wonderful Wizard of Oz...
. The series was planned to start September 1, 2002 but was cancelled, perhaps because the special effects required for each episode would have been too expensive. The pilot was made, but not released to television. An unfinished (some of the special effects are not complete) version has leaked onto DVD and VHS and has been sold many times on the bootlegger's market, and has since appeared on YouTube
YouTube
YouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
.
The pilot was written by David Hayter
David Hayter
David Hayter is a Canadian-American voice and screen actor and screenwriter. He is best known for providing the English voices of Solid Snake and Big Boss in the Metal Gear video game series, and for writing the screenplay for X-Men and co-writing the screenplay for The Scorpion King and X2...
, screenwriter of the first two X-Men
X-Men (film)
X-Men is a 2000 superhero film based on the fictional Marvel Comics characters of the same name. Directed by Bryan Singer, the film stars Patrick Stewart, Hugh Jackman, Ian McKellen, Anna Paquin, Famke Janssen, Bruce Davison, James Marsden, Halle Berry, Rebecca Romijn, Ray Park and Tyler Mane...
films, and directed by Mick Garris
Mick Garris
Mick Garris is an American filmmaker and screenwriter born in Santa Monica, California.-Biography:He is best known for his adaptations of Stephen King stories, such as directing the horror film Sleepwalkers starring Madchen Amick and is the creator of the Showtime series Masters of Horror...
. Many fans erroneously assume that Tim Burton
Tim Burton
Timothy William "Tim" Burton is an American film director, film producer, writer and artist. He is famous for dark, quirky-themed movies such as Beetlejuice, Edward Scissorhands, The Nightmare Before Christmas, Ed Wood, Sleepy Hollow, Corpse Bride and Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet...
was involved with this production, as Burton was going to make a movie called Lost in Oz
Tim Burton's Lost In Oz
Tim Burton's Lost In Oz was conceived as a television series based on the works of L. Frank Baum but never aired. Though a pilot script was written by Trey Callaway with direct input from Burton as an executive producer and a number of key scenes were filmed by television producer/director Michael...
in 2000, but the project was shelved before it was filmed. It does seem that the story was reused for this TV pilot.
Contrary to some fans' ideas, Lost in Oz was in no way based on or referred to Disney's Return to Oz
Return to Oz
Return to Oz is a 1985 film which is an unofficial sequel to Victor Fleming's The Wizard of Oz. The film is based on the second and third Oz books, The Marvelous Land of Oz and Ozma of Oz...
.
Plot
The unreleased pilot for "Lost in Oz" featured the adventures of Alexandra Wilder (Melissa GeorgeMelissa George
Melissa Suzanne George is an Australian film and television actress who has worked in Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States. Melissa is perhaps best known for her role as Angel Parrish on the Australian soap opera Home and Away...
) after a cyclone hurls her into the Land of Oz
Land of Oz
Oz is a fantasy region containing four lands under the rule of one monarch.It was first introduced in The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum, one of many fantasy countries that he created for his books. It achieved a popularity that none of his other works attained, and after four years, he...
. She meets World War II soldier Caleb Jansen (Colin Egglesfield
Colin Egglesfield
Colin Egglesfield is an American actor. He is best known for his portrayal as Dr. Josh Madden in the long-running soap opera All My Children, as well as Auggie Kirkpatrick in The CW's short-lived teen drama Melrose Place....
), and is given the task of rescuing Princess Ozma
Princess Ozma
Princess Ozma is a fictional character in the Land of Oz, created by L. Frank Baum. She appears in every book of the series except the first, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz .She is the rightful ruler of Oz, and L...
from the new Wicked Witch of the West
Wicked Witch of the West
The Wicked Witch of the West is a fictional character and the most significant antagonist in L. Frank Baum's children's book The Wonderful Wizard of Oz...
, Loriellidere (Mia Sara). They are joined by Serena, the Patchwork Girl
Patchwork Girl
The Patchwork Girl is a character from the fantasy Oz Book series by L. Frank Baum. She first appeared in The Patchwork Girl of Oz....
(Sandra Allen), who guides them to Loriellidere's labyrinth. In the labryinth, they find Ozma with Loriellidere, who attempts to kill them, but is held at gunpoint by Caleb, when Alexandra realizes that if the witch dies, she will take her place. Instead, Alexandra uses a gift from Bellardrie (Lynn Whitfield
Lynn Whitfield
Lynn Whitfield is an American actress.Whitfield began her acting career in television and theatre, before progressing to supporting roles in film. She won an Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or a Special and a NAACP Image Award for her performance as Josephine Baker in the...
), the Good Witch of the South, to defeat the witch: a glass bottle containing a cyclone. Unfortunately, the cyclone was to be used to return Alex to Kansas. She and Caleb are lost in Oz, Alex possessing some of the Witch's magic, and hoping for a chance to return home.
See also
- The Wizard of Oz (adaptations)The Wizard of Oz (adaptations)The Wonderful Wizard of Oz is a 1900 novel by L. Frank Baum, which has been adapted into several different works, the most famous being the 1939 film The Wizard of Oz, starring Judy Garland...
— other adaptations of The Wonderful Wizard of OzThe Wonderful Wizard of OzThe Wonderful Wizard of Oz is a children's novel written by L. Frank Baum and illustrated by W. W. Denslow. Originally published by the George M. Hill Company in Chicago on May 17, 1900, it has since been reprinted numerous times, most often under the name The Wizard of Oz, which is the name of...
and the other Oz books