Writer/Producer/TV Genius David Simon is probably best known for his series about crime and the seedier parts of American life. But for his next TV show idea, he’s turning his focus to an unlikely source. According to Variety, Simon is developing a new series about the Spanish Civil War.
The report states that Simon, who is best known for his series “The Wire” and is currently working on the second season of his new HBO show “The Deuce,” is teaming up with Mediapro to develop a show called “A Dry Run.” The series is said to follow the Abraham Lincoln and George Washington Battalions that were part of the International Brigade that fought during the Spanish Civil War between the years 1937 and 1939. As of now, the project is being eyed as a six-episode mini-series, but if the material calls for more, Simon and Medipro would take a look at the length.
Now, it’s obvious that when you look at a series by Simon, no matter what era it takes place in, the writer is going to make sure that the story is relevant to today. Variety spoke with the creator, who said the “Spanish struggle against fascism and the misuse of capitalism as a bulwark to totalitarianism” represent “the preeminent political narrative of the 20th century and of our time still.” Yeah, definitely don’t confuse this with your typical war story. This definitely sounds like a David Simon production.
The famous writer is also bringing along a couple of his writing veterans to the project. George Pelecanos and Dennis Lehane, who both worked on “The Wire,” are teaming coming back to work with Simon on “A Dry Run.” Right now, the TV mastermind and Mediapro, who produced the HBO series, “The Young Pope,” are seeking the funding for the series. But with someone with the credentials of Simon leading the way, there will be no shortage of studios and networks interested.
The writer told Variety that this series would definitely have the signature realism that separates his various projects from the rest of the shows on TV. “The style of any work we do bears a basic similarity,” Simon said. “We are interested in realism. And we don’t sell much in the way of redemption or happy endings. And, well, 1939 was no happy ending. Nor was it redemptive.”
This seems like an exciting new project from the writer, so hopefully, his good buddies at HBO give it a look. We definitely can’t get enough David Simon on our TVs.