An Oscar nominee is set to headline and executive produce MGM+’s upcoming eight-episode drama The Magnificent Seven, a reimagining of the 1960 Western classic. The series comes from Heroes creator Tim Kring, who writes and executive produces, as part of the network’s push for cinematic, big-swing storytelling alongside the likes of The Westies, the big-budget gang series starring JK Simmons and Titus Welliver.
Saddle up — because Matt Dillon is officially heading back to the frontier. Dillon will step into the boots of Chris Adams, the stoic leader of seven gunslingers determined to protect innocent villagers from a ruthless mercenary land baron trying to steal their land. Steady under pressure and guided by a quiet moral code rooted in fairness and restraint, Chris doesn’t waste words. The role was famously played by Yul Brynner in the original film, with Denzel Washington portraying a spiritual successor in the 2016 remake directed by Antoine Fuqua.
The official synopsis for the new series from MGM+ reads:
“Set in the tumultuous 1880s American frontier, The Magnificent Seven is a reimagining of the classic Western tale. After a peaceful Quaker village is massacred by mercenaries working for a greedy and ruthless land baron trying to force them off the land he covets, seven gifted but flawed mercenaries are hired by the community to protect them from the land baron’s hired guns. But as the team embeds itself in the community, preparing to defend them against overwhelming odds, they are all forced to grapple with an essential question: is the use of violence acceptable to defend a people whose faith is based on non-violence? The series takes a deep dive into the stories behind each of the Seven; what’s at stake for them, and why they choose to take on this mission. Like the original, this updated take on the classic story explores themes of honor, sacrifice and redemption, focusing on morality, faith, and the cost of courage.”
Why Is ‘The Magnificent Seven’ Being Remade?
“Tim Kring is a master storyteller,” said Michael Wright, head of MGM+. “Tim, Donald De Line, Larry Mirisch, and Bruce Kaufman have crafted a series that delivers the energy of a classic western, honors the legacy of the original film, and reasserts its timeless themes of the power of unity against oppression and flawed heroes finding redemption by helping those who can’t help themselves.”
via Collider