How Did The Gangs Of New York TV Series Come To Be?
Our Players
Hello, I'm director Martin Scorsese.
Hello, I'm Hollywood Bigshot Harvey Weinstein.
The Scene
Harvey, always great to see you.
Marty! Is it actually possible that I haven't seen you since you were at the Oscars with Hugo?
Haha, yeah, that was a great night. Not sure how that Best Picture nomination happened.
I know, you'd think I was behind it! So what can I do for you today?
Well, you know we've had a lot of success on TV with Boardwalk Empire.
Sure. It's certainly one of TV's most grudgingly watched shows.
I know, I know. Looks good, though, right?
Looks great! Looks very expensive.
Oh, and it is, so I'm glad that reads on camera.
So I take it you have another TV idea that you want to pursue.
I do, that's right.
Last Temptation Of Christ: The Series? Love it. Very hot. Build on that The Bible buzz.
Hm, well, no, that's not it. I'm not sure we left that much room for the story to proceed from where we left it. You know, because it was the last temptation. Right?
Prequel? The previous temptations? How I Met My Last Temptation?
No.
Well, fine. Mind if I use that for someone else?
I guess not.
[makes a note] So what did you have in mind?
Well, I don't know if you remember from when we worked on it, but Gangs Of New York is actually based on a pretty long book, and we just adapted a very small part of it.
Of course I don't remember that, but go on.
So I thought, given our success with the gangster story of Empire, there might be something in a Gangs Of New York TV series -- and that we could actually expand it out, look at other gang scenes of the time that were operating in New Orleans and Chicago.
Sounds like an urban Deadwood. How'd that show do?
I think it did a few seasons.
Then what?
Well, it didn't get cancelled because too many horses died on set, I'll tell you that much.
That was an ugly business.
It sure was.
But do you think this is a show that audiences are going to be able to keep up with? The archaic language; the people you're going to want to attract can't even spell the word "to" in a text anymore.
They still like seeing people get violently murdered, though, right?
Ooh, that's true. They really do.
And psychopathic killers doing cool stuff like tapping their prosthetic eyes with knives?
That is a pretty cool move. So what kinds of stories are you thinking you could do?
You know, I don't watch a whole lot of TV, but I think there are some stories that always have worked and always will.
Hit me.
Bill the Butcher ties himself in knots trying to plan a dinner party to impress Boss Tweed.
Sure.
Amsterdam forgets Jenny's birthday.
Classic.
Happy Jack handcuffs himself to Monk to make a point, but then loses the key.
Oh no!
McGloin gets stuck in an elevator with a pregnant lady, and then has to deliver the baby when she goes into labour.
Did they have elevators back then?
Do audiences know if they did?
Nope. [They high-five.]