Early American history – pre-independence – is a bit of a closed book to me, but a period I find fascinating nevertheless. So it’s exciting to learn that HBO’s seven-part mini-series tracking the influence of John Adams on American Independence – which has recently received no fewer than 23 Emmy award nominations – will be coming to More4 in September. Click through for more details and to see the 50-second trailer.

Starring Paul Giamatti (Sideways, Cinderella Man) in the title role, and Laura Linney (Love Actually) co-starring as his wife Abigail, this seven-part miniseries explores American history and offers an intimate portrait of one of its greatest founding fathers.

With the fervent support of his wife Abigail, and through a lifelong friendship and political rivalry with Thomas Jefferson, John Adams rose to be America’s strongest, most effective advocate for independence. As Jefferson was the pen of independence, Adams was the all-important
voice. He served as the nation’s first minister to the Netherlands and England, the first American Vice President, the second President, and father of the sixth American President.

Also starring in the series is Stephen Dillane as Thomas Jefferson, Tom Wilkinson as Benjamin Franklin and David Morse as George Washington. The series is directed by Tom Hooper (Longford) and executive producers are Tom Hanks, Kirk Ellis and Gary Goetzman.

Visit HBO’s John Adams website.