AMC Orders Two New Series: Revolutionary War Spy Drama Halt & Catch Fire and 1980s Computer-Centric Turn

As we go into the final episodes of Breaking Bad, and with Mad Men set to end next year, AMC announced at the TCA (Television Critics Association) press tour that they’ve picked up two new projects to series. Both are period pieces, though set in very different eras and worlds.

Turn is set during the Revolutionary War, centering on a group of young spies who were integral to the war, and comes from Craig Silverstein, who is wrapping up work on Nikita, which he created for The CW.

The other project, Halt & Catch Fire, is set in the early 1980s and is about the rise of the personal computer industry. Lee Pace (Pushing Daisies, The Hobbit and the upcoming Guardians of the Galaxy) is among the stars.

“The simultaneous greenlights today are the first in network history and underscore AMC’s growth and commitment to original scripted programming,” said Joel Stillerman, AMC’s EVP of original programming, production and digital content. “Each of these projects takes the audience into a unique world through compelling characters told with an original voice. We are so fortunate to be working with such exceptional talent on these series and can’t wait to bring them to viewers.”

Below are the official network descriptions for both series:

Set in the early 1980s, “Halt & Catch Fire” dramatizes the personal computing boom through the eyes of a visionary, an engineer and a prodigy whose innovations directly confront the corporate behemoths of the time. Their personal and professional partnerships are challenged by greed and ego while charting the changing culture in Texas' Silicon Prairie. From AMC Studios, “Halt & Catch Fire” is created by Chris Cantwell and Chris Rogers from a pilot directed by Juan Campanella (The Secret In Their Eyes). Jonathan Lisco has joined the series as showrunner and Mark Johnson (“Breaking Bad,” “Rectify,” Diner, Rain Man) and Melissa Bernstein (“Breaking Bad” and “Rectify”) from Gran Via Productions also serve as executive producers. The series stars Lee Pace (Lincoln, “Pushing Daisies”) as Joe McMillan, Scoot McNairy (Argo) as Gordan Clark, Mackenzie Rio Davis (Smashed) as Cameron Howe, Kerry Bishe (Argo, Red State) as Donna Clark, Toby Huss (Cowboys & Aliens) as John Bosworth and David Wilson Barnes (The Bourne Legacy, “You Don’t Know Jack”) as Dave Butler.

Based on the book “Washington’s Spies,” written by Alexander Rose, “Turn” is set in the summer of 1778 and tells the story of New York farmer, Abe Woodhull, who bands together with a group of childhood friends to form The Culper Ring, an unlikely group of spies who turn the tide in America’s fight for independence. “Turn,” also from AMC Studios, was developed and written by Craig Silverstein (“Nikita”) who also serves as series showrunner. The pilot was directed by Rupert Wyatt (Rise Of The Planet Of The Apes). Barry Josephson (“Bones,” Enchanted) from Josephson Entertainment is executive producer. The series stars Jamie Bell (Billy Elliot, King Kong, The Adventures of Tintin) as Abraham Woodhull, Kevin McNally (Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides) as Judge Richard Woodhull, Burn Gorman (The Dark Knight Rises) as Major Hewlett, Daniel Henshall (The Snowtown Murders) as Caleb, Seth Numrich (“The Good Wife”) as Ben Talmadge, Angus MacFadyen (Braveheart) as Robert Rogers, JJ Feild (Captain America: The First Avenger) as Major John Andre, Meegan Warner as Mary Woodhull and Heather Lind (“Boardwalk Empire”) as Anna Strong.

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