Originally Posted by hollywoodreporter

'Reconstruction' set in post-Civil War Missouri town

By Nellie Andreeva
Nov 4, 2009, 11:00 PM ET



FX is saddling up for "Reconstruction," a period Western from "St. Elsewhere" co-creator Joshua Brand and director-producer Peter Horton.

The drama, which is in development, is set in a Missouri town during the post-Civil War Reconstruction era and centers on Jason, a proper East Coast gentleman who returns from the war a changed man and seeks refuge in the border state.

"He ends up searching for his own salvation and becomes a reluctant savior for the town," Horton said.

Horton and Brand met 20 years ago when Brand directed Horton in an episode of "thirtysomething." They remained friends and occasional collaborators and came up with the idea for "Reconstruction" when discussing the realities of the today's world: the economic crisis and the situation in the Middle East, including war-ravaged Iraq.

"We thought a good way to tell the story would be through the allegory of the Western," Horton said. "How does one heal after (a war)? How do you find your humanity again?"

Brand is writing the script for the project, which will include magical elements, with Horton attached to direct. They are executive producing with Aaron Kaplan.

Westerns are hot this year. FX has picked up the contemporary Western "Lawman" to series, and several Western-themed projects are in development at the broadcast networks.

The UTA-repped Brand, a three-time Emmy winner, co-created "St. Elsewhere," "Northern Exposure" and "I'll Fly Away" with John Falsey.

The WME-repped Horton directed the pilots for "Grey's Anatomy" and "Dirty Sexy Money."