Showtime has today given a series order to the original limited series Good Lord Bird starring Academy Award-nominated actor and screenwriter Ethan Hawke (Boyhood, First Reformed). The season will feature eight episodes.
Based on the 2013 novel by James McBride, the series centers on the relationship between a young slave nicknamed Onion and abolitionist John Brown (Hawke). Told from Onion's point of view, it tells the story of how he became part of Brown's motley family and eventually takes part in the raid on Harper's Ferry, Virginia that helped precipitate the Civil War.
Hawke will co-write the series with Mark Richard. They will executive produce with McBride, Jason Blum, Brian Taylor, Ryan Hawke, David Schiff, Jeremy Gold, Marci Wiseman and director Anthony Hemingway. Blumhouse Television will produce.
"Good Lord Bird is one of my favorite books, told with wit, grace and wisdom by the great James McBride," said Hawke. "Bringing this story to the screen has been a passion project of mine and I am incredibly fortunate to have partners who are equally enthusiastic and are making it a reality - my wife and producing partner Ryan Hawke, and my longtime friends at Blumhouse. I'm looking forward to working for the first time with the talented folks at Showtime and Anthony Hemingway - both of whom have made some of the best television in the last couple years."
"This is just the right time for The Good Lord Bird," added McBride. "I wrote it to show we Americans are family - dysfunctional, screwy, funny, even dangerous to one another at times, but still family nonetheless. Old John Brown always had a knack for landing into the right place at the right time. I'm delighted he's landed in the lap of one of America's most gifted and literate actors. Ethan Hawke is special, and I'm thankful that Showtime and Blumhouse have shown faith and trust in one of America's oddest, most profound, and greatest heroes."
