The History Channel did so well with Hatfields And McCoys in 2012, that they are re-teaming with star of that series, Bill Paxton, for Texas Rising – and it is Paxton that features in the first image from the production, from Entertainment Weekly. The eight hour miniseries details the rise of the Texas Rangers after the events at the Alamo, and also numbers Brendan Fraser among its all-star cast.
Paxton stars as Sam Houston – namesake of the Texas city, and the American politician and soldier that helped bring Texas into the United States. During his career, in addition to being the first and third President of the Republic of Texas, he was instrumental in the victory that secured the independence of Texas from Mexico at the Battle of San Jacinto. The Texas Rangers – about whom this miniseries is made – were technically founded by Stephen F. Austin in 1823, when he employed ten men to protect settlers after the Mexican War Of Independence. The organization was formally constituted in 1835, and quickly increased in size.
The official synopsis from the History Channel provides more detail:
“The Alamo was not the end of the story, it was only the beginning, and Texas Rising details what followed, in the fight for an independent Texas. In 1836, west of the Mississippi was considered the Wild West and the Texas frontier was viewed as hell on earth. With colliding cultures all fighting for stakes to this territory, no one was safe. But this was a time of bravery, a time to die for what you believed in and a time to stand tall against the fierce Mexican General Santa Anna. General Sam Houston, the rag tag Rangers and the legendary “Yellow Rose Of Texas” lead this story of the human will to fight for freedom despite insurmountable odds, and to claim a piece of history for all eternity.”
Directed by Roland Joffe (City Of Joy), and written by Leslie Greiff (Walker, Texas Ranger) and Darrell Fetty (Mutant X), Texas Rising boasts an enviable wider cast, including Ray Liotta, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Thomas Jane, Jeremy Davies, Chad Michael Murray, Max Theriot, Robert Knepper, Crispin Glover, Jeff Fahey and Rob Morrow. Olivier Martinez stars as General Santa Anna, and Kris Kristofferson features as Andrew Jackson.
Texas Rising will premiere on May 25th 2015 – Memorial Day in the United States.