Variety broke the news this week that David Simon, the creator behind one of HBO’s most successful dramas, The Wire, is developing a new television series. The writer-producer is partnering with George Pelecanos and Dennis Lehane, two writers that worked with Simon on The Wire, to write the series together.
Simon’s new project is titled A Dry Run and will be a historical drama centered on American troops that travel from the United States to Spain to help fight against fascist forces during the Spanish Civil War. The series will span from the troops’ arrival in 1937 until 1939, where they leave to return to the States.
Though set during the early 20th century, Simon hopes that A Dry Run will help viewers reflect on current politics as well. The writer-producer told Variety that Spain’s “struggle against fascism and the misuse of capitalism as a bulwark to totalitarianism” reflect “the preeminent political narrative of the 20th century and of our time still.”
HBO could end up being the home for A Dry Run, though nothing is confirmed as of yet. Besides Simon’s past successful HBO projects such as The Wire and Show Me a Hero, he is currently producing one of HBO’s popular dramas, The Deuce. Meanwhile, A Dry Run’s production company Mediapro has produced HBO series such as The Young Pope before.
As of right now, Simon is planning for A Dry Run to be a six-part miniseries.