Joely Richardson, Vincent D'Onofrio, Florence Kasumba and Ana Ularu in "Emerald City"

I have a feeling we're not in Kansas anymore, and that's especially true if you're the lead character in NBC's newest fantasy drama. "Emerald City" is a dark, gritty take on the beloved classic "The Wizard of Oz" (1939), a story in which young Dorothy is whisked away to a mythical land called Oz. The new series, from visionary director Tarsem Singh ("Mirror Mirror," 2013, "The Fall," 2006), is a modern, more grown-up version of the iconic tale, and "Emerald City" premieres Friday, Jan. 6, on NBC.

In this iteration, Dorothy Gale is a nurse in her 20s fighting some personal demons. Played by Guatemalan-Puerto Rican actress Adria Arjona ("True Detective"), she wishes she could be something more -- and gets that opportunity pretty quickly. One fateful night at her remote Kansas home, a tornado barrels down on her, forcing her to hop into a police car along with a K9 police dog in an effort to save herself. The car is picked up by the swirling winds, and she's dropped down in a strange, new place (but not before striking and killing a woman with ruby-red accessories).

Yes, the premise is very similar to the 1939 movie, and while it draws its inspiration more from L. Frank Baum's books, "Emerald City" promises to be more sinister and foreboding than its predecessors.

"It's a reimagined, darker version of what we all know of 'The Wizard of Oz,'" Arjona told Entertainment Weekly at San Diego Comic-Con in July. Speaking of her character, she also said: "I end up in this magical land that's unlike anything I've personally ever seen on TV. Along the way, I come across some really wild things."

Some of those wild things include Munchkins, who -- contrary to the movie and story -- aren't too pleased by the fact that Dorothy's arrival killed the Witch of the East (Florence Kasumba, "The Quest"). There are also flying monkeys ("Wait for our flying monkeys, they're quite special," according to Arjona), the Witch of the West (Ana Ularu, "Inferno," 2016), Glinda (Joely Richardson, "Nip/Tuck") and, of course, the Wizard (Vincent D'Onofrio, "Law & Order: Criminal Intent").

It's never easy trying to reinvent a classic, something executive producer Shaun Cassidy touched on at New York Comic Con in October. "The challenge for all of us here is to find a new way of telling an old story, and reinvent that story in a way that felt contemporary," he said, adding: "It's allegorical to a lot of what's going on [in the world] right now."

"Emerald City" is already being compared heavily to HBO juggernaut "Game of Thrones," which has revolutionized fantasy television, with many critics pointing to the former's 10-episode order as being atypical for network TV. They also point to Singh's involvement in the project as another step towards a cable-esque network series.

Adria Arjona stars in "Emerald City"

"He's a visual genius, and working with him was so wild because he sees the world and this story ['Emerald City'] through completely different eyes," Arjona said. "Every day I would be surprised by these sets that he would build."

Singh's body of work is made up of films that have received widespread acclaim for their stunning visuals, and when a show like "Game of Thrones" hooks viewers as much with its artistry as with its writing and acting ("GoT" has won five-straight Emmys for Outstanding Special Visual Effects and four of the last five Emmys for Outstanding Production Design for a fantasy series), focusing on the aesthetic of "Emerald City" could help NBC draw in -- and, more importantly, keep -- viewers who think they know how the story will play out.

And that, ultimately, will be what's most important at the end of the day. Networks want viewers, and to get viewers, you have to do something different, especially if you're using a timeless story that's loved by many just the way it is. If the show's trailer is any indication, the series employs many familiar elements from the story -- like the Witches and Wizard mentioned earlier, as well as the Scarecrow, Tin Man and Cowardly Lion -- but they're used in their own distinct way, helping "Emerald City" stand out as its own entity.

It remains to be seen if NBC's dark, gritty reimagining of the classic will be a hit with audiences, but it's showing promise. In the very capable hands of Singh, "Emerald City" is shaping up to be artistically beautiful, with a bit of a modern twist to the story. No, we may not be in Kansas anymore,  but we're off to see the Wizard when the fantasy drama "Emerald City" premieres Friday, Jan. 6, on NBC.