History has stepped into the production ring with famed Rocky star/producer Sylvester Stallone to develop a new scripted series, the network announced during Wednesday’s A+E Networks upfront presentation.
Stallone will executive produce The Tenderloin, which is based on the true story of a turn of the century New York cop Charles Becker, the leader of a Strong-Arm Squad tasked with going to war with the Italian, Irish and Jewish gangs in a violent New York City neighborhood called “The Tenderloin,” according to History.
Stallone took the stage at the A+E Networks upfront Wednesday night at Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York, speaking of his decades-long interest in Becker and the colorful figures around him.
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“Long before Miranda Rights or the fictional series The Shield, there was the very real Charles Becker, a police officer living by his own moral code,” said Eli Lehrer, Executive Vice President and Head of Programming for History in a statement. “This is a passion project for Sylvester, who has discovered new facts on Becker’s case that shed new light on this infamous anti-hero.”
The network has also announced it is partnering with Star Trek star William Shatner on a new series The UnXplained. The eight-episode series, which Shatner will host and executive produce, will explore the facts behind the world’s most fascinating, strange an inexplicable mysteries.
In addition, the network has greenlit a second season of its unscripted series In Search Of, hosted and executive produced by actor Zachary Quinto.
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Other History announcements include the production of docudramas Washington and The Food That Built America, as well as the return of live event special Evel Live this July. History also announced several off-screen initiatives, including HISTORYTalks, a travelling speaker series; HISTORYSpeaks, featuring podcast companions to its series and specials; and HISTORYCon, a three-day convention that celebrates the country’s cultural, societal and political milestones. Former President George Bush led off the guest speakers at Wednesday night’s upfront, speaking of his love for “the History Channel” and the importance of learning lessons from history.
