Will Smith Producing ‘Harlem Hellfighters’ Limited Series
Will Smith’s Overbrook Entertainment is producing a limited series based on Max Brooks’ graphic novel The Harlem Hellfighters.
The book tells a dramatized version of the story of the US Army 369th infantry regiment, an all African-American unit that served during World War I.
The 369th regiment was first the 15th New York National Guard Regiment. Before its formation black men wanting to serve had to enlist in the French or Canadian army.
Serving under French command, the unit was treated like equals, a rarity for the time. German soldiers called them the Hellfighters because they never had a man captured, lost ground to the enemy or lost a trench.
The French government awarded them the Croix de Guerre for their service.
Soldiers of the 369th (15th N.Y.) who won the Croix de Guerre for gallantry in action, 1919. Left to right. Front row: Pvt. Ed Williams, Herbert Taylor, Pvt. Leon Fraitor, Pvt. Ralph Hawkins. Back Row: Sgt. H. D. Prinas, Sgt. Dan Storms, Pvt. Joe Williams, Pvt. Alfred Hanley, and Cpl. T. W. Taylor.
The six episode series will air on History Channel and is being written by the duo behind San Andreas.
Source: The Hollywood Reporter
