HISTORY PREMIERES DOCUSERIES “FRONTIERSMEN” FROM EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS LEONARDO DICAPRIO, JENNIFER DAVISSON ON MARCH 7 AT 9PM ET/PT
In April of 1775, just weeks before the American Revolution begins, a group of pioneers launch their own revolution, defying a King to establish a permanent settlement on the frontier. Before them lies a territory of 2.5 million square miles of vast, raw, untamed land stretching from the Appalachian Mountains to the Pacific Ocean that will one day forge a new nation. HISTORY’s four-part, eight-hour docuseries “The Men Who Built America: Frontiersmen,” from executive producers Leonardo DiCaprio and Jennifer Davisson of Appian Way and Stephen David of Stephen David Entertainment, premieres Wednesday, March 7 at 9PM ET/PT and tells the stories of the adventurous trailblazers, from Davy Crockett to Lewis and Clark, who set forth across the land to transform us from colonists to revolutionaries to Americans.
“The Men Who Built America: Frontiersmen” spans a formative period of history featuring the first 75 volatile years of the United States – from the Revolution through the California Gold Rush – where Daniel Boone, Meriwether Lewis and William Clark, John Frémont, Davy Crockett and Andrew Jackson set forth across uncharted land with determination and self-reliance.
Featuring dramatized portrayals of frontier icons interlaced with exclusive interviews with experts and survivalists, episode one, airing on Wednesday, March 7 at 9pm ET/PT, explores the beginning of The Revolution, where the outbreak of war spreads beyond the colonies into remote territory forcing frontiersmen such as Daniel Boone to fight for his life and the future of his country.
Episode two, airing on Wednesday, March 14 at 9pm ET/PT, follows Shawnee warrior, Tecumseh, as he unites the Native American tribes to resist expansion, while Lewis and Clark make their legendary expedition to the Pacific, and a new war for America begins.
In Episode three, airing on Wednesday, March 21 at 9pm ET/PT, America turns to General Andrew Jackson to defend the frontier but his methods give rise to a fierce rivalry with frontier icon Davy Crockett.
Lastly, episode four, airing on Wednesday, March 28 at 9pm ET/PT, delves into Davy Crockett’s stand at The Alamo, while John Frémont and Kit Carson set out on a secret mission that ignites a war for California and the Pacific.
“The Men Who Built America: Frontiersmen” is produced for HISTORY by Appian Way Productions and Stephen David Entertainment. Jennifer Davisson and Leonardo DiCaprio serve as executive producers for Appian Way Productions, the project was shepherded in by Appian Way’s Phillip Watson and Michael Hampton. Stephen David serves as executive producer for Stephen David Entertainment. Kristen Burns and Mary Donahue serve as executive producers for HISTORY. A+E Networks holds worldwide distribution rights for “Frontiersmen.”
About HISTORY®
HISTORY®, now reaching more than 96 million homes, is the leading destination for award-winning series and specials that connect viewers with history in an informative, immersive and entertaining manner across all platforms. The network’s all-original programming slate features a roster of signature series including The Curse of Oak Island, Forged in Fire, Alone, Pawn Stars, American Pickers, as well as the hit drama series Vikings and SIX. The HISTORY website is located at history.com. Follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/history and Facebook at facebook.com/history. For more press information and photography, please visit us at http://press.aenetworks.com
About Appian Way Productions
Appian Way Productions is a Los Angeles-based film and television production company founded by Leonardo DiCaprio. Jennifer Davisson serves as president of production. Since its launch, Appian Way has released a diverse slate of films, including Alejandro Iñárritu’s three-time Academy Award® and Golden Globe® winner “The Revenant,” Martin Scorsese’s Academy Award®- and Golden Globe®- nominated “The Wolf of Wall Street” and Academy Award®-nominated and Golden Globe®-winning “The Aviator,” along with “Shutter Island,” Scott Cooper’s “Out of the Furnace,” George Clooney’s Golden Globe®-nominated “The Ides of March,” the psychological thriller “Orphan” and the film adaptation of Dennis Lehane’s critically acclaimed novel “Live by Night” with Ben Affleck, among others.
The company has put forth strong efforts to gain headway in the documentary world, especially as it pertains to progressive environmental change. Appian Way recently worked in partnership with National Geographic to produce “Before the Flood,” a documentary film that sheds light on that aforementioned change. It also recently worked with Netflix to produce the Academy Award®-nominated “Virunga,” directed by Orlando von Einsiedel, and Kip Anderson’s “Cowspiracy: The Sustainability Secret.” Appian is in partnership with Netflix on several additional documentaries, including critically acclaimed “The Ivory Game,” “How to Change the World” and “Catching the Sun,” which were all released in 2016.
The following projects are currently in priority development at Appian: Otto Bathurst’s “Robin Hood”; a feature adaptation of the Japanese manga and animated film “Akira”; Scorsese’s “The Devil In the White City,” to which DiCaprio himself is attached to star; “The Ballad of Richard Jewell,” starring Jonah Hill; as well as “The Twilight Zone.”
Recently, Appian green-lit National Geographic series ”The Right Stuff,” as well as James Dean’s famed children’s book “Pete the Cat,” which is set to launch on Amazon later this year. In addition, Appian will co-produce “Saigon,” alongside Brad Weston’s “MakeReady,” a project David James Kelly will pen. The company also has multiple television projects in the works with HBO, Showtime, FX, Amazon and TNT.
