Showtime has officially picked up eight-episode limited series Good Lord Bird, which is set to star four times Academy Award-nominee actor Ethan Hawke. The series is based on the bestselling book The Good Lord Bird from James McBride and tells the story about young slave who joins forces with American abolitionist John Brown in his abolitionist mission.
“Lord Bird’ is one of my favorite books, told with wit, grace, and wisdom by the great James McBride,” said Hawke in a statement. “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.”
Hawke will star as Brown and will also co-write and executive produce the series alongside Mark Richard. Anthony Hemingway (True Blood and Shameless) is set to direct and produce. The start of the production and air date are still to be revealed.
“This is just the right time for The Good Lord Bird. I wrote it to show we Americans are Family – dysfunctional, screwy, funny, even dangerous to one another at times, but still family nonetheless,” said McBride in a statement. “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.”
Good Lord Bird was published in 2013 and received positive to mixed reviews from the critics. The novel also won the National Book Award for Fiction in the same year.
