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Stephen Gaghan (“Traffic”) is set to helm AMC’s geopolitical drama show.
Gaghan will direct the pilot ep of “White City” which centres on Western diplomats and journalists living in Afghanistan.
The show’s main character, Jon Liston, is a war junkie who has spent most of the past decade in Kabul. In the pilot he ignores advice given to him by almost everyone and overreaches in an attempt to talk with insurgent leaders. Disaster ensues.
Former Time magazine Middle Eastern correspondent Nick McDonell and former senior Afghanistan adviser to Richard C. Holbrooke John Dempsey brought the concept for the show and are co-writers and co-exec producers.
“Nick and John were actually staying at my house, fresh out of Kabul, when they were going around pitching the show,” said Gaghan. “They then went on to write a truly astonishing script.”
Rolling Stone journalist and “Criminal Minds” showrunner Chris Mundy is also exec producing with former CEO of Viacom and former resident of Afghanistan Tom Freston. Gaghan will exec produce also.
“We’re unbelievably excited that Steve is doing this,” said Mundy. “Before the pilot was even ordered, we talked about him as our dream director so to have it come to fruition is incredible. He not only knows and cares deeply about the terrain we’re covering but he brings an energy and intelligence that you can’t match. It’s a show that everyone involved with feels very passionate about and protective of. So, to have Steve step in and match that same passion makes us realize how lucky we are.”
