The series, called The West, explores characters at the center of this violent, blood-soaked period in American history.

Robert Redford

Robert Redford is executive producing a documentary miniseries called The West for the Discovery Channel. The documentary miniseries, from Sundance Productions and Stephen David Entertainment, will explore the unsavory characters who populated the western region of the United States at a time when it was up for grabs.

Set to premiere in 2014, the new series will provide unprecedented access into the wilderness, frontier lawlessness, and bloodshed of the 40 years between the end of the American Civil War and after the turn of the 20th Century, when the west was won.

The series will include such real-life characters as Jesse James, Crazy Horse, Wyatt Earp and Buffalo Bill. Each episode will follow the stories and struggles of the West’s most infamous outlaws as they fight for their land and identity.

“The West will expose the triumphs, tragedies and legendary characters who gave rise to the taming of the American West,” said Discovery and TLC Networks topper Eileen O’Neill.

Redford and Michalchyshyn have said that “the stories of the American West are epic and profound with some of the biggest, most renowned and mythologized characters. We are thrilled to be partnering with Stephen David to bring this series to the world.”

Laura Michalchyshyn will also executive produce for Sundance Productions, while Stephen David of Stephen David Entertainment is also on board to executive produce with Discovery’s Michael Sorenson.

Discovery and Redford teamed most recently for documentary All the President’s Men Revisited. DRG has international rights to The West.