The flowering of serialized television on basic cable has led to a
good deal of experiementation – whether to push the boundaries of
the medium or to cash in on the public’s interest in cable series.
This has led to both great successes (such as the horror-drama
hybrid of
The Walking Dead)
and curious misfires (see
Rubicon).
FX has proven to be one of the more successful purveyors of cable
entertainment, running a variety of smartly written, critically
beloved comedies and dramas. Seeking to expand their already
formidable roster, FX has begun development on a number of new
miniseries properties – one of which is a new adaptation of the
classic novel
The Last of the
Mohicans.
THR shares the
scoop that
The Last of the Mohicans is currently being
developed as a miniseries to be aired as a television event for FX.
Christopher Crowe – who helped write the screenplay for the 1992
film adaptation of
Mohicans directed by Michael Mann –
will pen the new script with Kerry McCluggage (the original
Miami Vice) and
Steve Beck (
Doc). They will apparently lean more heavily
on the direct source material of James Fenimore Cooper’s book than
the 1992 film. Taking place during the height of the French and
Indian War, Cooper’s novel follows the adventures of Natty
“Hawkeye” Bumppo, a frontiersman closely allied with the remnants
of the Mohawk tribe. Amidst the chaos of the border war, Hawkeye
attempts to protect a British general’s daughter and fight off the
forces of Magua, a bloodthirsty Huron chief out for revenge against
the English.
With a novel as old and culturally beloved as
The Last of the
Mohicans, it can be difficult to discern whether or not a new
adaptation is welcome – let alone necessary. While considered a
flawed work by purists, Mann’s version of
Mohicans was
received well both critically and commercially. The film remains
the definitive version of the story to the generation that grew up
around its release. As such, will this new television series be
able to generate enough interest (and separate itself enough from
the 1992 entry) to justify FX’s efforts?
Fortunately, it appears that not only are Crowe and crew delving
more heavily into Cooper’s novel, they are also using it as a
springboard into an examination of the roots of American history.
If they do indeed use
The Last of the Mohicans as an
entryway into a drama about life in the mid-18th century – rather
than just another version of Cooper’s pulp adventure – FX’s
upcoming miniseries could be worth more than just a casual
glance.