AMC Orders Drama Pilots 'Knifeman' & 'Galyntine'
Set in 18th century London, Knifeman will focus on the untold story of a charming, arrogant, decorum-breaking genius who challenges societal norms to transform his visions into cutting-edge discoveries. A surgeon or barber in a time when blood-letting and praying was the norm, John Tattersal is a hard drinking, hard living man not afraid to push the boundaries of modern medicine, even if it takes digging up a few graves to do it. While he makes his living running an unlicensed operating theatre out of his residence, he picks up extra cash harvesting organs for his brother Julian, favorite son and prized physician of the St. Stephens teaching hospital. Knifeman is a fast paced, entertaining romp filled with emotion, tackling dark themes with a biting wit. The pilot was written by Rolin Jones (United States Of Tara, Friday Night Lights, Weeds, Low Winter Sun) and developed by Jones and Ron Fitzgerald (Last Resort, Prime Suspect, United States Of Tara, Friday Night Lights, Weeds), both of whom will serve as executive producers. Media Rights Capital (House of Cards), Josh Donnen and Robert Zotnowski are also executive producers. Knifeman is inspired by the biography of John Hunter by Wendy Moore, The Knife Man: Blood, Body Snatching and the Birth of Modern Surgery.
Galyntine is a wholly-original vision rooted in a both fantasy/action adventure and science-fiction. Our pilot takes place at a time after a cataclysmic technology-induced disaster has resulted in a new society that has eschewed any form of technology. This catastrophic event leaves small numbers of survivors scattered around the planet and forced to adapt to isolation and unique challenges. Galyntine will explore a post-apocalyptic world in which humanity has evolved with some strange detours. Galyntine is a mans journey of discovery through a changed world and its mysterious people. The project is written by Jason Cahill (Halt and Catch Fire, Fringe, Surface, Profiler) and executive produced by Cahill and Greg Nicotero (The Walking Dead, This Is The End, Oz The Great And Powerful, Transformers). David Zucker and Ridley Scott will also executive produce through Scott Frees (The Good Wife, Numb3rs) first-look deal with AMC.