Variety is reporting that Blumhouse Television has signed Ethan Hawke (The Magnificent Seven, Before Midnight) to co-write and star in a limited series based on James McBride’s 2013 National Book Award-winning novel The Good Lord Bird. Hawke will play abolitionist leader John Brown, with Mark Richard (Fear of the Walking Dead) co-writing the script with him.
According to the official synopsis, The Good Lord Bird follows “the story of a young boy born a slave who joins John Brown’s antislavery crusade – and who must pass as a girl to survive. Henry Shackleford is a young slave living in the Kansas Territory in 1857, when the region is a battleground between anti- and pro-slavery forces. When John Brown, the legendary abolitionist, arrives in the area, an argument between Brown and Henry’s master quickly turns violent. Henry is forced to leave town – with Brown, who believes he’s a girl. Over the ensuing months, Henry – whom Brown nicknames Little Onion – conceals his true identity as he struggles to stay alive. Eventually Little Onion finds himself with Brown at the historic raid on Harpers Ferry in 1859 – one of the great catalysts for the Civil War.”
Hawke will executive produce The Good Lord Bird alongside McBride, Brian Taylor, Ryan Hawke, and David Schiff, with Jason Blum producing.
Hawke previously starred two enormous Blumhouse successes with the first Sinister and The Purge movies. He will next be seen opposite Chiwetel Ejiofor in Tonight at Noon, as well as in the western The Kid with Chris Pratt.
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