‘The Crown’ star leads cast of new Abraham Lincoln drama ‘Manhunt’
Apple TV+ has announced details of a new period drama about the Lincoln assassination.
Created by multi-award-winning Fargo writer and producer Monica Beletsky, Manhunt will star Tobias Menzies.
The 47-year-old English actor is best known for his roles as Prince Philip in The Crown, Edmure Tully in Game of Thrones, and Jonathan “Black Jack” Randall in Outlander.
Menzies will play Edwin Stanton, Abraham Lincoln’s war secretary and friend, who was almost driven to madness by his need to track down John Wilkes Booth and to fulfil Lincoln’s legacy.
Manhunt is based on James Swanson‘s best-selling book, Manhunt: The 12-Day Chase for Lincoln’s Killer.
Abraham Lincoln served as the 16th president of the United States from 1861 until he was assassinated in 1865.
The official synopsis for the limited series reads: “Part historical fiction, part conspiracy thriller, Manhunt will take audiences into the aftermath of the first American presidential assassination and the fight to preserve and protect the ideals that were the foundation of Lincoln’s Reconstruction plans — issues that reverberate into the present day.
“The series strongly features Black historical figures whose lives intertwined with the escape, manhunt and subsequent high-crimes investigation, including Mary Simms, a former slave of the doctor who treated Booth’s injury and gave him safe harbor after his crime.”
Directed by Emmy-nominated Carl Franklin (Mindhunter), Manhunt will begin filming later this year.
The limited series is expected to premiere exclusively on Apple TV+ in 2023.
Meanwhile, The Crown will return this autumn with a fifth season!
Netflix’s hit drama has once again replaced its entire main cast, with Jonathan Pryce taking over the role of Prince Philip from Tobias Menzies.
A sixth season of Outlander also begins soon on Starz.
The Crown is available on DVD on Amazon.