AMC orders post-Civil War drama series

NEW YORK, Dec. 15 (UPI) -- AMC has announced it ordered a full series of "Hell on Wheels," a drama set in post-Civil War America.

In it, Anson Mount plays former Confederate soldier Cullen Bohannan whose quest for vengeance has led him westward to work on the construction of the first Transcontinental Railroad, the cable TV network said in a synopsis.

The series is created and written by Joe and Tony Gayton, who also serve as executive producers.

The project is developed by Endemol USA and Jeremy Gold, Endemol's senior vice president of scripted programming, serves as executive producer.

Entertainment One is the studio producing the series.

"We are thrilled to bring 'Hell on Wheels' to series," Joel Stillerman, AMC's senior vice president of original programming, production and digital content, said in a statement Wednesday. "AMC's commitment to the western is long-standing, and the genre is an important part of our brand and history as a channel. This show has some incredibly original twists and turns and a contemporary sensibility that we think will bring a very broad audience to our newest drama series."

The cast also includes Common, Dominique McElligott, Colm Meaney, Ben Esler, Philip Burke and Eddie Spears.

Shot on location in Alberta, Canada, the series is produced with assistance of the Government of Alberta, Alberta Film Development Program.