AMC AND SONY PICTURES TELEVISION TO DEVELOP DAVID CARR’S MEMOIR “THE NIGHT OF THE GUN” AS A MINI-SERIES WRITTEN BY SHAWN RYAN AND STARRING BOB ODENKIRK
NEW YORK, NY and LOS ANGELES, CA – June 6, 2016 – AMC and Sony Pictures Television today announced an agreement to develop journalist David Carr’s searing and poignant bestselling memoir “The Night of the Gun” as a six-part miniseries on AMC, with Bob Odenkirk (“Better Call Saul,” “Fargo,” “Breaking Bad”) attached to play Carr, who died last year, and Shawn Ryan (“The Shield,” “Mad Dogs,” “Terriers”) attached to write.
Odenkirk and Ryan are both executive producers, along with Marc Provissiero of Odenkirk-Provissiero and Joshua Astrachan of Animal Kingdom, which originated the project. Eileen Myers (“Masters of Sex,” “Mad Dogs,” “Hung”) is also attached as an executive producer and writer.
“David Carr’s work as a journalist was uncompromising, enlightening, and most of all, always driven by a fundamental quest for the truth. When he turned those skills and values around to focus on his own life as an addict, the result was a stunningly original, compelling and important piece of journalism the likes of which the world had never seen – a simultaneously heartbreaking, funny, and inspirational account that redefined the idea of telling a personal story,” said Joel Stillerman, president of original programming and development for AMC and SundanceTV. “Shawn Ryan, Bob Odenkirk, and the incredible team behind this have embraced all the things that David would have loved as a storyteller, and crafted a vision for ‘The Night of the Gun’ that we hope will be as timeless as David’s book.”
“David Carr’s life was the antithesis of formulaic and only a team as creative as this could bring it to life with authenticity, audacity and reverence,” said Helen Verno, executive vice president, movies and miniseries for Sony Pictures Television.
“The Night of the Gun” is an incredible tale of a journalist’s search for the truth about the most painful subject of his career — himself. David Carr’s autobiography is a searing, hysterical look at the demon of addiction and his journey from the crack pipe to esteemed columnist for The New York Times,” Ryan said. “I couldn’t be more honored to help bring his story to life, especially with the immensely talented Bob Odenkirk as an actor and creative partner.”
“I read David’s story, ‘The Night of the Gun,’ when it came out and was wildly entertained by his saga. It’s a story of survival filled with pain, crack, journalistic righteousness, abandoned cars, crooks, lies, and then there’s the two little girls who saved his life; it’s overstuffed with humanity,” Odenkirk said. “Shawn Ryan is the man to explore this real anti-hero story. I hope to do justice to David’s intellect and his scrappy nature. It’s gonna be crazy… if we do it right.”
Bob Odenkirk is an Emmy® Award-winning writer, producer, actor and New York Times bestselling author. He co-created and starred in the cult hit “Mr. Show with Bob and David” with David Cross, which ran on HBO for four years and has been referred to as “the American Monty Python.” As an actor he has brought many film and television characters to life, including “Stevie Grant” in “The Larry Sanders Show,” ex-porn star “Gil Bang” in “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” “Ross Grant” in Alexander Payne’s acclaimed feature “Nebraska,” and “Bill Oswalt” on the FX series “Fargo.” In 2015, Odenkirk reprised the character he originated on the hit drama “Breaking Bad,” playing the title role in AMC’s “Better Call Saul,” which just completed its second season. His role has earned him a Critics’ Choice TV Award and nominations for an Emmy, Golden Globe® and SAG® Award. Odenkirk will next be seen in the noir comedy “Girlfriend’s Day” for Netflix, which he wrote and will star in.
“The Night of the Gun” credits:
Produced by Sony Pictures Television and AMC Studios.
Bob Odenkirk, executive producer and star, Odenkirk-Provissiero.
Shawn Ryan, executive producer and writer, Middkid Productions.
Marc Provissiero, executive producer, Odenkirk-Provissiero.
Joshua Astrachan, executive producer, Animal Kingdom.
Marney Hochman, executive producer, Middkid Productions.
Eileen Myers, executive producer, writer.
About AMC
AMC is home to some of the most popular and acclaimed programs on television. AMC was the first basic cable network to ever win the Emmy® Award for Outstanding Drama Series with “Mad Men” in 2008, which then went on to win the coveted award four years in a row, before “Breaking Bad” won it in 2013 and 2014. The network’s series “The Walking Dead” is the highest-rated series in cable history and the number one show on television among adults 18-49 for the last four years. AMC’s other current original drama series include “Better Call Saul,” “Hell on Wheels,” “Turn: Washington’s Spies,” “Halt and Catch Fire,” “Humans,” “Fear the Walking Dead,” “Into the Badlands,” “The Night Manager,” “Preacher,” and forthcoming “Feed the Beast,” “The Son” and “The Terror.” AMC also explores authentic worlds and discussion with original shows like “Talking Dead,” “The Making of The Mob,” “Comic Book Men” and the upcoming “Ride with Norman Reedus” and “The American West.” AMC is owned and operated by AMC Networks Inc. and its sister networks include IFC, SundanceTV, BBC America and WE tv. AMC is available across all platforms, including on-air, online, on demand and mobile.
About Sony Pictures Television
Sony Pictures Television (SPT) is one of the television industry’s leading content providers, producing and distributing programming worldwide in every genre and for every platform. In addition to managing one of the industry’s largest libraries of award-winning feature films, television shows and formats, SPT is home to a thriving US production business and operates 18 wholly-owned or joint venture production companies in 11 countries around the world. SPT’s worldwide networks portfolio includes 150 channel feeds, which are available in 178 countries reaching more than 1.3 billion cumulative households worldwide. Additionally, SPT owns US production company Embassy Row and is part owner of Game Show Network (GSN). Sony Pictures Television (SPT) is a Sony Pictures Entertainment Company.
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