Kevin Costner and Morgan Freeman are teaming up as executive producers for an upcoming historical drama series
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The Gray House is set during the American Civil War and follows three women who reshape the Underground Railroad
The television show debuts on Prime Video on Feb. 26
Kevin CostnerandMorgan Freemanare gearing up for the release of their all-new historical drama miniseries,The Gray House.
On Jan. 22, the veteran actors, who serve as executive producers on the series, appeared at a screening and panel discussion in Los Angeles at Paramount Pictures Studios, and discussed how they came together to tell the incredible true story behind their latest project.
The Gray House— which stars Mary-Louise Parker, Daisy Head and Amethyst Davis — tells the true story of an unlikely trio of women who came together during the American Civil War to transform their Virginia-based Underground Railroad into an effective, but even more dangerous underground spy network.
"I think the closer you could stay to human behavior, which exists in every century, every decade, we haven't changed that much. But I think when you tell a story like this, you have to get as close to the violence as you can because it was such a scary time," Costner told the audience at Paramount's Sherry Lansing Theater asNischelle Turnermoderated.
"The heroism that three women will step into is, it was no laughing matter. That's trivializing it. But I think you try to stick with the language and … the evilness that really is just inches away," he added.
Lori McCreary, Rod Lake, Howard Kaplan and Leslie Greif also serve as executive producers on the Roland Joffé-directed series.
"It was a dangerous time. It was citizen on citizen. And these women found themselves in a region of the country, and they just didn't agree," Costner added of the women, who came together to change history.
Freeman added that with "so much story to tell," it only made sense to breakThe Gray Houseup into eight episodes rather than attempting to make a film.
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Costner also shared why he and theBucket Listactor pushed for the project to be made when they met with network execs early on.
"It was easy. I mean, we all respond to writing. We're moved by writing. We have to continue to be able to be moved. And great writing can do that. I was moved many, many times, but Morgan stood right with me. It's easy to think about what your contribution was, but if you look in Morgan's eyes, [they] are very formidable. Very formidable," theYellowstonealum said while laughing. "I've seen that and, but he stood with me and he said, 'What's so hard about this decision?'"
"And there was nothing. And now it lives, we can pass it on. I swear that's a war we still haven't recovered from," Coster said.
Ben Vereen, Paul Anderson, Ian Duff, Hannah James, Robert Knepper, Christopher McDonald, Colin Morgan, Rob Morrow, Colin O'Donoghue, Sam Trammell and Keith David round out the ensemble cast.
In addition to the stories of those who risked their lives to help others,The Gray Housealso has an all-star soundtrack, including music fromShania Twain,Lainey Wilson,Killer Mike, theWar and Treaty, andDiane Warren, plusWillie Nelson, who performs a song called "The Heart of America," and many more artists.
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"I don't think it could be more timely, sadly, I don't think it could be more timely, but I think it's really important that people sit here and realize where we were and where we are. And hopefully this will give us a moment of pause to reflect," Greif said as the United States inches closer to its semiquincentennial.
All eight episodes ofThe Gray Housearrive on Prime Video on Feb. 26.
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