‘Manhunt’ Creator Answers Burning Questions: Why Lincoln’s Onscreen Assassination Had to Be Gory, How Much Is Historically Accurate and More
variety.comWilliam Earl administrator SPOILER ALERT: This article discusses plot twists from the premiere episode of “Manhunt.” The assassination of Abraham Lincoln was one of the biggest turning points in American history, and the new Apple TV+ series “Manhunt” examines the behind-the-scenes drama of a wartime government thrown into further chaos.
Edwin Stanton (Tobias Menzies) leads the series as Lincoln’s close confidant and secretary of war, who goes on a mission to track down John Wilkes Booth (Anthony Boyle) after he shoots President Lincoln (Hamish Linklater).
The seven-episode series is based on executive producer James L. Swanson’s nonfiction book “Manhunt: The 12-Day Chase for Lincoln’s Killer,” and episodes will be released weekly after the first two debuted on March 15.
Variety spoke with “Manhunt” creator, executive producer and writer Monica Beletsky about striving for accuracy while still telling a thrilling story, the importance of showing Lincoln’s violent death and bringing period-appropriate hygiene to television. What was your initial research process for “Manhunt”? First, I stumbled upon the figure of Edwin Stanton, and that was my way in.
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