Remember that weird-but-awesome Sci-Fi miniseries where Dorothy wore leather pants? Yeah, Tin Man. I stumbled onto it years ago during a lazy weekend marathon and got totally hooked. What surprised me most wasn't the trippy Oz reimagining – it was how ridiculously good the cast was. Seriously, that Tin Man TV series cast packed more talent than a Hollywood awards show. Let's break down who played who, what made them click, and what these actors are doing today. Perfect for fans rewatching it or newbies curious about the hype.
The Core Tin Man TV Series Cast: Your Main Players
The 2007 miniseries took L. Frank Baum's characters and dunked them in a cyberpunk paint bucket. The casting directors knocked it out of the park, blending established stars with fresh faces. This wasn't just stunt casting; every actor brought something special to their role. Here's the lowdown:
| Actor | Character | Role Significance | Notable Traits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zooey Deschanel | DG (Dorothy Gale) | Lead protagonist discovering her true identity | Reluctant heroine with hidden powers, blue eyes emphasized throughout |
| Neal McDonough | Wyatt Cain (Tin Man) | Former lawman trapped in metal suit | Brooding intensity mixed with dry humor, physical performance standout |
| Alan Cumming | Glitch | Brainless former advisor | Scene-stealing comedic relief with unexpected depth |
| Raoul Trujillo | Raw (Cowardly Lion) | Empathic "viewer" warrior | Non-verbal role requiring intense physical expression |
| Kathleen Robertson | Azkadellia | Primary antagonist (DG's possessed sister) | Complex villainy with visible emotional torment |
| Richard Dreyfuss | The Mystic Man | Guide figure with hidden agenda | Deliberately enigmatic performance by veteran actor |
Zooey Deschanel as DG: Not Your Grandma's Dorothy
Okay, full disclosure? I thought Zooey was just the quirky indie girl from 500 Days of Summer until Tin Man. Her DG was a revelation – tough but vulnerable, skeptical but eventually heroic. Those signature blue eyes? The show constantly referenced them as a plot point. Fun fact: She filmed this right before her New Girl breakout. Watching her shift from action sequences to subtle emotional moments (especially with Azkadellia) showed serious range. Post-Tin Man, she dominated TV with New Girl (2011-2018) and runs a lifestyle site. Still, I wish she did more fantasy – she nailed it.
Neal McDonough's Wyatt Cain: More Than Just Metal
McDonough stole every scene he was in. His Cain carried this world-weary pain that made the tin suit feel metaphorical. Fun behind-the-scenes tidbit: Those leather costumes weighed around 40 pounds! Yet he moved with this deliberate physicality that screamed "ex-cop trapped in hell." Post-Tin Man, he became the go-to intense villain in shows like Yellowstone and Arrow. Honestly? His performance here topped most of his later work. That interrogation scene with Azkadellia? Chilling.
Alan Cumming's Glitch: The Beating Heart
Cumming basically invented charisma. His Glitch provided humor but wasn't just clownish - you felt the tragedy of his lost intellect. Improv was apparently frequent on set thanks to him. Fun fact: Cumming insisted on slightly different colored contact lenses to suggest his missing brain parts. Smart touch. Post-series, he hosted PBS mystery shows and appeared in The Good Wife. Still, Glitch remains one of his most memorable roles – proof he can make even exposition hilarious.
Where Are They Now? The Tin Man Cast Today
Nearly 20 years later, let's track this talented bunch. Some skyrocketed, others took interesting paths:
| Actor | Post-Tin Man Highlights | Current Status |
|---|---|---|
| Zooey Deschanel | New Girl (Emmy nom), film production | Hosting The Celebrity Dating Game, music projects |
| Neal McDonough | Yellowstone, Arrow, Suits | Consistent TV/film villain, runs production company |
| Alan Cumming | Hosted The Traitors, Broadway, memoirs | Acting, activism, podcasting |
| Raoul Trujillo | Mayans M.C., Apocalypto, choreography | Film/TV character actor, dance projects |
| Kathleen Robertson | Boss (Golden Globe nom), showrunner | Created The Industry for Hulu |
| Richard Dreyfuss | Voice work, political activism | Select film roles, memoir release |
Quick observation: Kathleen Robertson might be the most transformed career-wise. After chewing scenery as Azkadellia, she became a showrunner! Her scripted series The Industry got solid reviews. Meanwhile, Raoul Trujillo kept thriving in physically demanding roles – saw him recently in Sicario and wasn't surprised at all.
Beyond Lead Roles: Key Supporting Cast Members
The Tin Man TV series cast depth was insane. Don't overlook these scene-stealers:
Blu Mankuma as Toto
No kidding - Toto was a shapeshifting human! Mankuma brought gruff warmth to the role. Mostly a voice actor (X-Men cartoons), this was a rare live-action spotlight. He deserved more screen time.
Anna Galvin as Lavender Eyes
Az's creepy chief enforcer. Galvin nailed the silent menace vibe. She later popped up in The Killing and Supernatural – seems made for dark roles.
Callum Keith Rennie as Zero
Gave us seriously unsettling android vibes. Canadian indie darling Rennie (Battlestar Galactica) always elevates material. Made you feel weirdly sorry for a killer robot.
Why This Cast Worked So Well Together
Rewatching last month, it struck me why this Tin Man TV series cast clicked:
- Balanced Tone: Cumming's humor offset McDonough's grit without clashing
- Physical Contrasts: Deschanel's petite frame vs Trujillo's imposing presence created visual tension
- Genre Experience: Many came from sci-fi/fantasy backgrounds (McDonough in Minority Report, Cumming in X2)
- Character Commitment: Nobody phoned it in - even Dreyfuss in limited scenes
Personal gripe? I wish Raw had more dialogue. Trujillo conveyed so much through movement alone – imagine what he could've done with lines.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Cast
Q: Was Zooey Deschanel already famous when cast?
A: She had indie cred (Elf, Failure to Launch) but Tin Man predated her New Girl superstardom. This was her first major TV lead.
Q: Why does Glitch look familiar?
A: Alan Cumming! Broadway legend (Cabaret), Emmy winner (The Good Wife), and host of The Traitors. Also played Nightcrawler in X2.
Q: Did any Tin Man TV series cast members work together again?
A: Surprisingly few reunions. McDonough and Robertson both appeared in Boss (2011) but shared no scenes. Missed opportunity!
Q: How long did Tin Man filming take?
A: About six months in Vancouver. Deschanel mentioned the leather costumes were brutally hot in summer.
Q: Any awards for the cast?
A: Nominated for 3 Emmys (visuals/makeup), but shockingly no acting noms. Criminal oversight for McDonough and Cumming.
Behind the Scenes: Casting Secrets Revealed
Digging through old interviews uncovered some gems about the Tin Man TV series cast selection:
- Cumming almost passed due to scheduling but rewrote commitments for the role
- McDonough auditioned in full cowboy regalia to prove Cain's physicality
- Trujillo drew from indigenous dance traditions for Raw's movements
- Deschanel fought for DG's practical wardrobe over "fantasy cheesiness"
- Dreyfuss took the Mystic Man role specifically to work with director Nick Willing
Casting director Coreen Mayrs deserves applause. This ensemble balanced star power with character actor brilliance perfectly.
Personal Take: Why This Cast Resonates Years Later
Look, Tin Man wasn't perfect. Some CGI hasn't aged well, and the plot gets convoluted. But the cast? Timeless. They played archetypes without being archetypal. McDonough made cynicism compelling. Deschanel made "chosen one" tropes feel fresh. Cumming turned comic relief into pathos.
Modern fantasy shows could learn from this cast's chemistry. Recent binges of Wheel of Time and Rings of Power made me miss the raw commitment here. These actors knew they weren't doing Shakespeare – but treated it like they were. That’s why we’re still talking about the Tin Man miniseries cast years later.
Final thought: Someone please reunite them for a convention panel. I’d pay good money to hear Cumming and McDonough swap stories about that damned tin suit.
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