Manhunt dramatizes one of the most influential moments in American history—the assassination of Abraham Lincoln by John Wilkes Booth. The Apple TV+ series is based on the novel Manhunt: The 12-Day Chase for Lincoln’s Killer by James L. Swanson and was developed for television by Monica Beletsky, whose past work includes Fargo, The Leftovers, and Friday Night Lights. The series’ cast includes Anthony Boyle as John Wilkes Booth, Tobias Menzies as Edwin Stanton, and Lovie Simone as Mary Simms.
Screen Rant presents a clip from Manhunt episode 4 set on the evening of the Manhattan fire plot—a Confederate plot to burn down New York City. On that day, John Wilkes Booth and his brothers performed a one-night production of Julius Caesar. While the true story of John Wilkes Booth may not have had the actor arguing with his brother backstage at that production, the clip raises an interesting possibility that pits brother against brother. Check it out and watch the full episode March 29 on Apple TV+.
In Monica Beletsky’s Screen Rant interview, the showrunner discussed having a revelation about how little she knew about Booth’s run from the law. Although there are books (like Manhunt: The 12-Day Chase for Lincoln’s Killer) that explore the topic, the circumstances surrounding Lincoln’s death have certainly been overshadowed by the momentous nature of the event itself. Films like Killing Lincoln and The Conspirator tackle the subject, but none have the same focus on Booth that Manhunt does, making the limited series a unique exploration of the topic.
As seen in the clip above, Manhunt’s cast of characters features people from Booth’s life as well as his co-conspirators in the Lincoln assassination. Tying Booth’s crime back to events like the Manhattan fire plot and discussions of ideology gives it more context than is often depicted in movies and television shows. With roughly seven hours of runtime, the limited series can help audiences gain a greater understanding of the dangerous motivations of people like Booth.
The approach has paid off, with the series garnering an 86% fresh score on Rotten Tomatoes and proving to be a highly-watched venture for Apple TV+. Screen Rant’s Manhunt review praised the series, especially highlighting the way the series delves into post-Civil War America as it tells the story of Booth’s attempted escape from the law. Ultimately, Manhunt’s success invites viewers to wonder which other historical moments could benefit from a similar treatment.
