‘The Wire’ Creator David Simon to Lead Oprah’s MLK Miniseries for HBO

Winfrey will produce miniseries based on “America: In the King Years”

“The Wire” mastermind David Simon will lead HBO’s Oprah Winfrey-produced miniseries about the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr., a person familiar with the project told TheWrap.

Simon is expected to write (at least) the first hour of the six-part miniseries, which is based on the book “America: In the King Years,” written by Pulitzer Prize-winning author Taylor Branch.

Simon will guide the project along with his “Treme” co-creator, Eric Overmyer.

Also read: The Amazing Story of How MLK Ad-Libbed the ‘I Have a Dream Speech’

Winfrey brought the project to HBO. The series will feature the freedom rides, King’s relationships with presidents Kennedy and Johnson, and his assassination.

Simon’s long history with HBO began with the miniseries “The Corner,” followed by “The Wire”, the miniseries “Generation Kill,” and “Treme,” which just completed its final season.

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