MGM+ has officially greenlit a television adaptation of ‘The Magnificent Seven,’ with ‘Heroes’ creator Tim Kring set to write the series.

Originally released in 1960 and directed by John Sturges, ‘The Magnificent Seven’ is one of several classic MGM/United Artists titles that drew renewed interest following Amazon’s acquisition of the studio behind the James Bond franchise. This new version represents a different creative direction from a previously announced iteration that had been developed by ‘True Detective’ creator Nic Pizzolatto.

The eight-episode drama will be penned by Kring, who also created Fox’s ‘Touch.’ He will serve as executive producer alongside ‘Billy the Kid’ executive producer Donald De Line, as well as Lawrence Mirisch and Bruce Kaufman. The series is produced by MGM+ Studios and MGM Television Studios, with production scheduled to begin in June.

Set against the volatile backdrop of the American frontier in the 1880s, the reboot centers on a pacifist Quaker community that is brutally attacked by mercenaries in the employ of a ruthless land baron determined to seize their property. In response, the villagers enlist seven highly skilled but deeply flawed guns-for-hire to defend them. As the group becomes embedded within the community and prepares for a violent confrontation against overwhelming forces, each mercenary must confront a moral dilemma: can violence be justified when protecting people whose beliefs reject it entirely? The series will explore the personal histories of each of the Seven, examining what drives them and what they stand to lose by taking on the fight.

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