Abolitionist John Brown Mini Series To Air On FX

A mini series based on slavery abolitionist John Brown is being developed by actor Paul Giamatti and FX, according to Deadline.

The series will follow Brown’s life as a mundane 50-year-old farmer transforming into a notorious anti-slavery freedom fighter in Kansas and his most noted 1859 raid on Harper’s Ferry.

Tony Horwitz’s 2011 book “Midnight Rising” which magnifies Brown’s unsuccessful attack on the Virginia arsenal, hoping to persuade a country wide revolt is the basis for the show. The attack is viewed as a pivotal moment in the South’s decision in seceding the following year. Horwitz is a consultant on the project which is expected to be 6 to 8 hours in total, Deadline reported.

Giamatti and partner Daniel Carey will executive produce the show, who are also working on a project with FX Productions on the Puritan settler-based Mayflower.

The name for the John Brown project is still tentative.