MGM+ Greenlights Series Adaptation of Iconic Western The Magnificent Seven

Prime Video has announced Tim Kring (Heroes) will write and executive produce a new eight-episode series based on the classic 1960 western.

What is The Magnificent Seven about

Set in the tumultuous 1880s American frontier, The Magnificent Seven is a reimagining of the classic Western tale. After a peaceful Quaker village is massacred by mercenaries working for a greedy and ruthless land baron trying to force them off the land he covets, seven gifted but flawed mercenaries are hired by the community to protect them from the land baron’s hired guns. But as the team embeds itself in the community, preparing to defend them against overwhelming odds, they are all forced to grapple with an essential question: is the use of violence acceptable to defend a people whose faith is based on non-violence?

The series takes a deep dive into the stories behind each of the Seven; what’s at stake for them, and why they choose to take on this mission. Like the original, this updated take on the classic story explores themes of honour, sacrifice and redemption, focusing on morality, faith, and the cost of courage.

A reminder of the classic film

A remake of Akira Kurosawa’s Japanese classic 7 Samurai the original film spawned sequels, a TV series and a 2016 remake. It starred Yul Brynner, Steve McQueen, Charles Bronson, Horst Buchholz, Robert Vaughan, James Coburn and Brad Dexter. The seven are hired by a poor group of Mexicans sick of being terrorised by a gang of bandits. The cinematography and Elmer Bernstein’s music are epic and memorable, but it’s the characters that stay in the memory. Highly recommended if you’ve never watched, and often shown at Christmas.

Are westerns poised to be the next big thing? If so, this may just be a sign of things to come.