HBO announced that the duo behind their massive hit Game of Thrones, David Benioff, and D.B. Weiss, prepares another TV show for the network titled Confederate. Benioff and Weiss created the series and will serve as writers and show runners.
Confederate is set in an alternate timeline where the South seceded from the Union and created a new nation in which the slavery is legal and has developed into a modern institution. The series chronicles the events that will lead to the “Third American Civil War.”
“We have discussed Confederate for years, originally as a concept for a feature film. But our experience on Thrones has convinced us that no one provides a bigger, better storytelling canvas than HBO.” said Benioff and Weiss in their statement.
Confederate will enter the production after the final season of Game of Thrones, which is expected to premiere in 2019. Nichelle Tramble Spellman (Justified, The Good Wife) and Malcolm Spellman (Empire) will join the show as writers, while Game of Thrones producers Carolyn Strauss and Bernadette Caulfield are attached to the project as executive producers.
“As the brilliant Game of Thrones winds down to its final season, we are thrilled to be able to continue our relationship with Dan and David, knowing that any subject they take on will result in a unique and ambitious series.” said Casey Bloys, president of HBO Programming. “Their intelligent, wry and visually stunning approach to storytelling has a way of engaging an audience and taking them on an unforgettable journey. Confederate promises to be no exception, and we are honored to be adding the talented team of Nichelle and Malcolm Spellman to the mix.”
Upon the announcement of Confederate, HBO and the creators faced a significant backlash with activists, journalists, and the general public all criticizing the premise of the TV show.
