Benjamin Franklin is considered by many to be the greatest and most respectable of America’s Founding Fathers. He was a man of both historical fact and legend and had an immense impact on the development of the United States. Part of his incredible life story is set to be told in a new limited series for Apple TV+. But, who is worthy of portraying this American icon? According to a report from Deadline, award-winning actor Michael Douglas is stepping up for Apple TV+ to portray Benjamin Franklin.
This upcoming Apple TV+ Benjamin Franklin series is being executive produced by lead actor Michael Douglas, the writer and executive producer of John Adams, Kirk Ellis, and TV director, writer, and producer Tim Van Patten, whose credits include Boardwalk Empire and The Sopranos. The limited series is based on a book by Pulitzer Prize Winner Stacy Schiff: A Great Improvisation: Franklin, France, and the Birth of America. However, the series itself has been written by Ellis and will be directed by Van Patten.
Apple TV+’s Benjamin Franklin series will explore the thrilling and true story of the greatest gamble of Benjamin Franklin’s career and life in general. At the age of 70 — without any diplomatic training or experience — Franklin convinced France, a monarchy, to underwrite the United States of America’s experiment with democracy. All the while, Franklin outsmarted and outmaneuvered British spies, French informers, not-so-friendly colleagues, and more to engineer the Franco-American alliance of 1778 as well as peace with England in 1783. His eight-year mission in France was perhaps his most vital service to the United States, which helped the country win the Revolutionary War.
The Apple TV+ Benjamin Franklin series will be Kirk Ellis’ third limited series featuring Benjamin Franklin. In his first, John Adams, Franklin was played by Tom Wilkinson. In his second Sons of Liberty, Franklin was played by Dean Norris. This time around, though, Oscar winner Michael Douglas will portray Benjamin Franklin during one of the most critical times in his life.
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