Actor Jamie Bell to join W&M event, 'Television, History and Revolution'
Abraham Woodhull Actor Jamie Bell plays Abraham Woodhull in AMC network's Revolutionary War drama, TURN: Washington's Spies. Abraham Woodhull is a member of the Culper Ring, America's first spy ring. Courtesy image
William & Mary will present a discussion, “Television, History and Revolution,” Tuesday, Feb. 3 at 7 p.m. in Phi Beta Kappa Auditorium. The event will feature actor Jamie Bell, as well as producers from AMC network’s Revolutionary War drama, TURN: Washington’s Spies and faculty from William & Mary. The event is free and open to the public.
Most recently seen in the film, “Snowpiercer,” TURN: Washington’s Spies is Bell’s first television series. He made his film debut in 2000 as the title character in the award winning motion picture, “Billy Elliot” and since then has appeared in “Nicholas Nickleby” (2002), “King Kong” (2005), “Jane Eyre” (2011), and “The Adventures of Tintin” (2011). Bell recently completed the role of Ben Grimm in “The Fantastic Four,” which will be released in summer 2015.
TURN: Washington’s Spies will return to AMC with 10 new episodes in spring 2015. The series stars Bell as Abraham Woodhull, a farmer living in British-occupied Long Island during the Revolutionary War, who bands together with a disparate group of childhood friends to form the first American spy ring, the Culper Ring. Together they risked their lives and honor, and turned against family and King, for a fight they believed in passionately, ultimately helping George Washington turn the tide of the War in favor of the rebels.
Both of the show’s executive producers, Craig Silverstein (Nikita) and Barry Josephson (Bones), along with author Alexander Rose, will also join the discussion. The series is based on Rose’s book, Washington’s Spies. Rose, who served as a consultant last season, joined the writing staff for season two. William & Mary History Professor and Department Chair Cindy Hahamovitch will moderate the event.
The panel will also feature Arthur Knight, associate professor of American studies, English, and film and media studies; Joshua Piker, professor of history and editor of the William & Mary Quarterly; Susan Kern, professor of history and executive director of the Historic Campus; and Karin Wulf, director of the Omohundro Institute for Early American History.
The production filmed scenes for their second season on the William & Mary campus at the beginning of the fall 2014 semester. The opening scene for season two, which was shot in the Great Hall of William & Mary's Wren Building, will be premiered at this event.
Space will be limited; people planning to attend should let organizers know via www.wm.edu/turn.
