HBO announced today its newest original series, Luck, a drama centered on the world of horse racing, from writer David Milch (The Wire). Michael Mann (Heat, Public Enemies) will direct with an all-star cast including Dustin Hoffman, Dennis Farina and Nick Nolte. Kerry Condon, John Ortiz, and Tom Payne are also said to be on board.
The ensemble drama will explore the world of horse racing and gambling, with Hoffman starring as ‘Ace Bernstein,’ a recently paroled mainstay at the track. Nolte and Ortiz will both play horse trainers, the former as ‘The Old Man,’ a once famous trainer – the latter as the accomplished Peruvian trainer ‘Escalante,’ who has a seedy reputation. Farina will play Ace’s right-hand man.
To recap: The Wire’s David Milch writing, Michael Mann directing, and Dustin Hoffman, Dennis Farina, and Nick Nolte starring. If that’s not enough to get you to renew your subscription to HBO there’s this exciting detail: Mann has said in the past that Milch’s script for this series is one of the best he has ever had handed to him. Are you excited yet? I’m imagining an R-rated Seabiscuit, with lots of hard drinking, sex, cursing, and misogyny. Like Mad Men, but for horse racing.
