Showtime has released the first trailer and poster for its new limited seriesThe Good Lord Bird, which will premiere on Sunday, August 9 at 10 p.m. The seven-episode series is executive produced byEthan Hawke, who stars as controversial abolitionistJohn Brown.
The Good Lord Birdis told from the point of view of Onion (newcomerJoshua Caleb Johnson), a fictional enslaved boy who becomes a member of Brown’s motley family of abolitionist soldiers during Bleeding Kansas – a time when the state was a battleground between pro- and anti-slavery forces – and eventually finds himself participating in the famous 1859 raid on the U.S. Armory at Harpers Ferry. Brown’s raid failed to initiate the slave revolt he intended, but was the event that started the Civil War.
Per Showtime,The Good Lord Birdweaves a humorous, dramatic and historical tapestry of Antebellum America, spotlighting the complicated and ever-changing racial, religious and gender roles that make up the American identity. The series hails from Blumhouse Television and is based on the award-winning novel of the same name by bestselling authorJames McBride.
The series also starsHubert Point-Du Jour(Madam Secretary),Nick Eversman(Wild),Mo Brings Plenty(Yellowstone),Jack Alcott,Ellar Coltrane, who starred alongside Hawke inBoyhood, andBeau Knapp, who is one of my favorite character actors. I showed my girlfriendSuper 8a few weeks ago and pointed him out as the gas station attendant, and then we watchedDestroyerthis past weekend and I pointed him out once again as the guy datingNicole Kidman’s daughter. He’s just got a great face, and I can’t wait to see what he does in another limited series following his strong turn in Netflix’sSeven Seconds.
Meanwhile, there are a bunch of cool guest stars lined up forThe Good Lord Bird, includingHamiltonstarDaveed Diggsas abolitionistFrederick Douglass, plusDavid Morse,Steve Zahn,Maya Hawke,Wyatt Russell, andOrlando Jones. The series is a family affair for Ethan Hawke, whose wifeRyan Hawkeis executive producing with him alongsideJason Blum,Mark Richard,Padraic McKinley,Jeremy Gold,Marci Wiseman,Albert Hughes,Brian Taylor,Marshall Persinger,David Schiffand McBride.
Showtime could use a series likeThe Good Lord Bird, having just bid a fond farewell toHomelandafter unceremoniously droppingRay Donovanlike a bad habit. Hawke’s series, however shouty it may be, looks pretty good, and I was a big fan of Blumhouse TV’s last limited series on Showtime, theRussell Crowe-starrerThe Loudest Voice. Showtime has a strong slate of upcoming shows, includingHalo,RipleyandThe President Is Missing. Up next is the documentary seriesOutcry, and you’re able to watch the trailer for that fascinating true crime showright here. Watch the trailer forThe Good Lord Birdbelow and leave your thoughts in the comments section, as I’ll be curious what the reaction is to this one.
