As other networks scramble to get a foothold in the increasingly popular miniseries and limited series arenas, HBO continues to keep on producing some high-minded and star-studded productions. Now, they’re hoping to do it again, as the network has just greenlit Lewis and Clark, a new historical miniseries that counts Tom Hanks, Brad Pitt, and Edward Norton among its producers, and Casey Affleck and Matthias Schoenaerts as its stars.
HBO’s six hour miniseries will be based on Undaunted Courage, Stephen Ambrose’s book that focuses on America’s first contact with the land and people west of the Mississippi River. Affleck will be playing Lewis and Schoenaerts will be Clark, the explorers who led a team to explore the recent Louisiana Purchase in the very early 19th Century. John Curran, who helmed The Painted Veil, is set to direct the series from a script by himself, Edward Norton, and Michelle Ashford.
The Lewis and Clark expedition is bound to be an interesting story for a miniseries, and with a cast like this one I think that many of us will want to tune in. HBO’s president of programming is duly excited about the series. Here’s what he had to say in the announcement:
In ‘Lewis and Clark,’ we can see American idealism and the breathtaking natural beauty of the continent, as well as the complexities and tragedies of what came to be known as America’s ‘manifest destiny.’ We are tremendously excited to bring together this incredible group of talents to tell a seminal American story.
Production on Lewis and Clark is set to begin this summer, which means that we probably will not see the full series until sometime next year. With Affleck and Schoenaerts in place, it will be interesting to see who else signs on to play a part.
As always, we will let you know more details about Lewis and Clark as they become available.
