After being credited as creator of the hit AMC series The Walking Dead and acting as showrunner for a short while, Frank Darabont was fired and moved on to a new project. This new project was set up with TNT, and was known at the time as L.A. Noir. Not L.A. Noire the video game, but based on the book L.A. Noir: The Struggle for the Soul of America’s Most Seductive City by John Buntin.
Since then the show has changed its name to Lost Angels, cast people like Walking Dead star Jon Bernthal, and changed the title again, this time to Mob City.
Now a first trailer has been released for the show, which is set to premiere on December 4th, and you can watch it below.
Much like the game L.A. Noire, Mob City is also set in post-war Los Angeles when mobsters run the town, including Mickey Cohen, who was also featured in the game and the recent movie Gangster Squad. But there’s plenty of other familiar gangster names involved in the show, some of which fans of HBO’s Boardwalk Empire who aren’t so familiar with mob history will recognize.
Here’s a full synopsis:
The epic battle between a determined police chief and a dangerous mobster inflames 1940s Los Angeles in TNT’s eagerly anticipated television event Mob City (formerly known as Lost Angels). This powerful drama comes to TNT from Frank Darabont (The Walking Dead), who wrote and directed the pilot and serves as executive producer on the series. Based on the critically acclaimed book L.A. Noir: The Struggle for the Soul of America’s Most Seductive City, by John Buntin, Mob City opens in post-war Los Angeles, home to glamorous movie stars, powerful studio heads and returning war heroes. But it’s also a city caught between a powerful and corrupt police force and an even more dangerous criminal network determined to make L.A. its West Coast base.
Los Angeles Police Chief William Parker (Neal McDonough “” Captain America, Desperate Housewives)) has made it his mission to free the city of criminals like Ben “Bugsy” Siegel (Ed Burns “” Entourage) and Mickey Cohen (Jeremy Luke “” Don Jon), the ruthless king of the Los Angeles underworld. Parker also won’t hesitate to go after anyone from his own police force who sells out honor and duty for the sake of a big payout. To carry out his sweep of organized crime, Parker sets up a new mob task force within the LAPD. Headed by Det. Hal Morrison (Jeffrey DeMunn “” The Walking Dead, The Shawshank Redemption), the task force includes Det. Joe Teague (Jon Bernthal “” The Walking Dead), an ex-Marine who holds his cards close to his chest. Mob City’s exceptional ensemble cast also includes Gregory Itzin (24), Robert Knepper (Prison Break), Milo Ventimiglia (Heroes) and Alexa Davalos (Clash of the Titans, The Mist). Mob City is produced by TNT Originals, with Darabont, Michael De Luca (The Social Network) and Elliot Webb (Alpha House) serving as executive producers.
Fun facts:
— As you’ll see in the trailer, Simon Pegg, star of Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz, The World’s End, and J.J. Abrams’ Star Trek movies, has a role.
— Patrick Fischler, who portrayed Mickey Cohen in L.A. Noire, is said to also have a role in this series as infamous gangster Meyer Lansky.
Looks pretty great from where I’m sitting; how do you think Mob City looks?
Trailer
[Source: via Collider]
The era this is set in is one of my favorite. I love Raymond Chandler, L.A. Confidential, LA Noire the game and the fashion of the time. I love The Walking Dead too so I know the work of Darabont and Bernthal. I won’t miss this show. Thanks for putting up the story.
Comment by Bryan P — August 16, 2013 @ 6:57 am