Manhunt
The assassination of Abraham Lincoln in 1865 has been the subject of fascination, speculation, and rabid conspiracy theories for over 150 years.
With Manhunt, Apple TV+ adapts James L. Swanson’s New York Times best-selling and Edgar Award-winning book, Manhunt: The 12-Day Chase for Lincoln’s Killer, into a seven-part mini-series. True to its literary source, the series documents in meticulous detail the days between Lincoln’s murder and the capture of John Wilkes Booth.
The series premieres March 15 with Episode 1, “Pilot,” and Episode 2, “Post Mortem.” The spot-on timing of launching on the Ides of March appeals to the literary heart of me. After all, one infamous assassination deserves another.
Key Art Credit: Apple TV+
Setting the Stage
The key players in the series are John Wilkes Booth (Anthony Boyle) and War Secretary Edwin Stanton (Tobias Menzies), but looming over both of them is the specter and legacy of Abraham Lincoln (Hamish Linklater).
The premiere hits the ground running, dropping viewers directly into the heady days following the end of the Civil War and the Confederacy’s surrender at Appomattox.
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Booth is framed as a sinister but enigmatic presence initially, working his way through Washington D.C., setting in motion a multi-pronged plan to topple the U.S. Government even as the country celebrates its newly-won unity.
By jumping back and forth in the timeline leading up to the events at Ford’s Theatre, a rich background of mood and motivation is painted. This is a world where Confederate loyalties run deep and deadly, racists and racism are the norm, and the most aspirational goals can be ambushed by the weakest of character flaws.
Anthony Boyle stars in “Manhunt.” Photo credit: Apple TV+.
Confederacy Conspirators
Beautifully shot, methodically paced, and with historical authenticity to rival productions like The Crown or Boardwalk Empire, Manhunt engages audiences narratively by focusing on Stanton’s determination to bring Booth to justice.
As the evidence mounts showing that although Booth pulled the trigger alone, he was aided by a network of allies, fear dogs Stanton and his team that Lincoln’s death will trigger another war.
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Even knowing it did not play out that way, the possibility feels real when watching the action unfold. It is a testament to Manhunt‘s cast and creatives that they can make us question the history we know.
The trailer below promises more thrills and excitement to come as the authorities race to apprehend Booth before he can escape to the South.
Something to watch for is those characters less known to the general populace. Mary Simms (Lovie Simone), Mary Todd Lincoln (Lili Taylor) and Ellen Stanton (Anne Dudek) were real women of the time. They suffer and survive the aftermath of Lincoln’s murder with front-row seats to the hunt for his killer.
Patton Oswalt‘s casting as Detective Lafayette Baker is admittedly a bit jarring. However, a quick dive into the character’s biography has me intrigued as to how that plot thread will play out.
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With this impressive cast, stellar production value and the bonkers true story of how Booth attempted to evade justice, Manhunt sits down at the table with a stacked deck. This is how history should always be taught.
Manhunt streams on Fridays on Apple TV+.
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