HBO Producing a New Drama About the Salem Witch Trials

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Jenji Kohan, the creator of the shows “Weeds” and “Orange is the New Black,” is currently developing a new drama about the Salem Witch Trials for HBO, according to an article on the Hollywood Reporter website:

“The untitled Salem period drama explores the circumstances surrounding one of the most compelling chapters in American history, when intolerance and repression set neighbor against neighbor and led a town to mass hysteria.

Kohan will pen the script with Bruce Miller (Alphas, Eureka) and Tracy Miller. Kohan and Bruce Miller will also executive produce, while Tracy Miller will receive a supervising producer credit. The drama hails from Lionsgate TV, where Kohan is under an overall deal.”

The new show does not have a title yet and it is not known if it will film in Salem, Massachusetts.

The HBO drama is one of two new shows about the Salem Witch Trials currently in development.

WGN is producing a similar show titled “Salem” which is set to air in the spring of 2014. “Salem” is a fictionalized account of John Alden Jr.’s role in the witchcraft hysteria.

Shane West has been cast to play Alden, who is portrayed as a war veteran who returns to Salem to find it in the middle of the witchcraft hysteria.

The cast also includes Janet Montgomery, as sorceress Mary Sibley, Seth Gabel as Cotton Mather, Ashley Madekwe as Sibley’s cohort and Tamzin Merchant as Anne Hale, an artist who finds herself attracted to Alden.

Sources:
Goldberg, Leslie. “Jenji Kohan Prepping Provocative Period Drama at HBO.” Hollywood Reporter, 4 Dec. 2013, www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/jenji-kohan-prepping-provocative-period-662120
Shanahan, Mark and Meredith Goldstein. “HBO Inks Deal for Salem Witch Trials Drama.” HBO.com, 6 Dec. 2013, www.bostonglobe.com/lifestyle/names/2013/12/06/hbo-inks-deal-for-salem-witch-trials-drama/af7t9X21eKU7gw85jIveKM/story.html
Geldman, Vlada. “Nikita’s Shane West Joins WGN America’s Witchy Original Drama Salem as Male Lead.” Tvline.com, 1 Nov.  2013, tvline.com/2013/11/01/shane-west-salem-tv-series-wgn-america/

About Rebecca Beatrice Brooks

Rebecca Beatrice Brooks is the author and publisher of the History of Massachusetts Blog. Rebecca is a freelance journalist and history lover who got her start in journalism working for small-town newspapers in Massachusetts and New Hampshire after she graduated from the University of New Hampshire with a B.A. in journalism. Visit this site's About page to find out more about Rebecca.