Kevin Costner and Morgan Freeman are teaming up to make a new spy drama set in Civil War Richmond. Costner told reporters that the six-hour miniseries is based on the story of Mary Bowser, aka Mary Richards, a Black woman who posed as a slave to be placed in service in the Confederate White House. Bowser worked with spymaster Elizabeth Van Lew to gather information in the house of Jefferson Davis and deliver it to the Union Army.
The series will be called The Gray House and one of its scriptwriter is Academy Award-nominee John Sayles. Sayles became well-known for the historical films 8 Men Out about the Blacksox scandal and Matewan set during an historic coal miners’ strike. Roland Joffe (The Killing Fields, The Mission) is set to direct.
Costner told reporters “The Gray House is an untold true story of three amazingly brave abolitionist heroes of the Civil War, who just happened to be women. Having a passion for history, it’s always personally fulfilling to share richly layered stories about America’s unsung heroes. I’m delighted to join forces with my friends Leslie Greif and Morgan Freeman with whom I’ve had great success to produce this important, epic saga.”
Joffe is quoted by Deadline saying, “I’m exhilarated as a director to bring these women of historical consequence to the screen. They are women of fire and courage; decision-makers and fighters who faced incredible obstacles and dared to change the world. It’s rare to find material with such richly complicated, layered characters. I can’t wait to bring these 4 diverse ladies to life for today’s audience.”
The series is expected to begin filming in the Spring of 2023.
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