In January 2022, a series adaptation of Manhunt: The 12-Day Chase for Lincoln's Killer by James L. Swanson was first announced. The series was created and written by showrunner Monica Beletsky as the first project in her overall deal with Apple, and Carl Franklin will direct.[2] The following month, Anthony Boyle and Lovie Simone were added to the cast, with Boyle portraying John Wilkes Booth.[4]Matt Walsh would be cast as Samuel Mudd in March.[5] Additional casting would be announced in May.[6]
Pre-production for the series began in Savannah, Georgia in February 2022, with filming beginning in May and set to finish by October.[7] Filming of the assassination at Ford's Theatre began on location at the Miller Theater, a historic location in Philadelphia, in June 2022.[8]
The programme was presented as being partly fictionalised, with some characters and events created for dramatic purposes.[9]
Reception
Critical response
The review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes reported an 87% approval rating with an average rating of 7.3/10, based on 46 critic reviews. The website's critics consensus reads, "Dramatizing a flashpoint in American history with hot-blooded performances and contemporary resonance, Manhunt transcends the trappings of wax museum recreation to deliver addicting entertainment."[10]Metacritic assigned a score of 65 out of 100 based on 22 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[11] Angie Han praised the series' themes and the performances of the cast.[12]
