‘Show Me a Hero’ Trailer: Oscar Isaac Gets Political in the New HBO Series From ‘The Wire’ Creator
The only unfortunate thing about Show Me a Hero is the realization that David Simon’s latest HBO enterprise is a limited series. Simon, who also created The Wire (aka the best television series of all time), returns to the network with Show Me a Hero, starring Oscar Isaac as a mayor struggling to do the right thing in a city that doesn’t want to let him. Oh, and he also has a real great mustache.
Isaac stars in the six-part series as real-life Yonkers, New York mayor Nick Wasicsko, a young politician forced by a federal court order to comply with the construction of low-income housing in the predominantly white areas of his town. Wasicsko struggles with a city railing against the new federal plan as well as his conscience, which demands he do the right thing come hell or high water.
In addition to Isaac, Show Me a Hero features a fantastic supporting cast, including Catherine Keener, Winona Ryder, Alfred Molina, LaTanya Richardson-Jackson, Bob Balaban and Jim Belushi.
From creator David Simon (‘Treme’ and ‘The Wire’) and director Paul Haggis (‘Crash’), and based on the nonfiction book of the same name by Lisa Belkin, this six-part miniseries explores notions of home, race and community through the lives of elected officials, bureaucrats, activists and ordinary citizens in Yonkers, NY.
In an America generations removed from the greatest civil rights struggles of the 1960s, the young mayor (Oscar Isaac) of a mid-sized American city is faced with a federal court order that says he must build a small number of low-income housing units in the white neighborhoods of his town. His attempt to do so tears the entire city apart, paralyzes the municipal government and, ultimately, destroys the mayor and his political future.
In addition to Oscar Isaac, ‘Show Me a Hero’ stars Catherine Keener, Alfred Molina, Winona Ryder, LaTanya Richardson-Jackson, Bob Balaban and Jim Belushi. Directed by Paul Haggis; written by David Simon and William F. Zorzi; executive produced by David Simon, Nina K. Noble, Paul Haggis, Gail Mutrux and William F. Zorzi.
The first two episodes will debut back-to-back on HBO on Sunday, August 16. Hopefully it won’t be too much longer before Simon delivers his next HBO series, which reportedly focuses on Times Square and the porn industry in the ‘70s.