Ethan Hawke to play abolitionist John Brown on Showtime's Good Lord Bird

The Hollywood Reporter

The four-time Oscar nominee is co-writing, producing and starring in the eight-part limited series based on James McBride's 2013 novel The Good Lord Bird, winner of the the National Book Award for fiction, about the relationship between a young slave nicknamed Onion and abolitionist John Brown in pre-Civil War America. Anthony Hemingway is slated to direct Good Lord Bird, which is told from Onion's point of view. “Good Lord Bird is one of my favorite books, told with wit, grace and wisdom by the great James McBride,” says Hawke, the latest movie star to sign on for a TV series. “Bringing this story to the screen has been a passion project of mine, and I am incredibly fortunate to have partners who are equally enthusiastic and are making it a reality – my wife and producing partner Ryan Hawke, and my longtime friends at Blumhouse. I’m looking forward to working for the first time with the talented folks at Showtime and Anthony Hemingway – both of whom have made some of the best television in the last couple years.”