David Simon will write 'Show Me a Hero' script based on Lisa Belkin's book about the struggles of a young mayor to build low-income housing units in the city's white neighborhoods.
- Jul 31, 2014
AceShowbiz - David Simon's miniseries "Show Me a Hero" has been given a go by HBO. The project receives the greenlight after tapping Oscar Isaac ("Inside Llewyn Davis") and Catherine Keener ("Captain Phillips") in the lead roles, following months of search for actors and director.
The Civil Rights drama from "The Wire" co-creator Simon will be directed by Paul Haggis ("Crash"). Simon and William F. Zorzi will pen the script based on the 1999 nonfiction book of the same title by Lisa Belkin.
Set in the late 1980s, it tells the story of Nick Wasicsko (Isaac), "the youngest big-city mayor in the nation" who is ordered by the federal court to build low-income housing units in the city's white neighborhoods of his town, Yonkers, N.Y. His attempt to do so tears the city apart, paralyzes the municipal government and, ultimately, destroys his political future.
Keener will play Mary Dorman, "an East Yonkers homeowner who comes to a remarkable realization during the battle over where to build low-income housing." The series will explore the ideas of home, race, and community through its portrayal of ordinary citizens, elected officials, bureaucrats, and activists.
Simon, Zorzi, and Haggis will executive produce the six-hour miniseries with Nina Noble and Gail Mutrux. Simon previously wrote and produced HBO's 2000 miniseries "The Corner" which won an Emmy for Best Miniseries. His other works, miniseries "Generation Kill" and drama series "Treme" which aired on HBO, also earned Emmy nominations.
