Anthology series Great American Stories in development at AMC

AMC is paying homage to its roots as an American Movie Classics channel with a potential new franchise in development: Great American Stories. Great American Stories, produced by AMC Studios, is an anthology series where each season is “dedicated to a different celebrated work, historical moment or individual story that celebrates and highlights the American spirit.” The first season will be based on John Steinbeck’s novel The Grapes of Wrath. The announcement came ahead of AMC Networks’ Upfront 2025 presentation yesterday.



“For more than a year we have been searching for the perfect story to launch our next big television franchise, and we found it in The Grapes of Wrath, which is as timely and relevant today as it was when first published in 1939,” said Dan McDermott, president of entertainment and AMC Studios for AMC Networks. “Our country is built upon so many unforgettable historic and dramatic moments, tales of bravery and courage, classic novels, short stories, and chronicles well known and never-before-told. As a network that began its life as American Movie Classics, this is the franchise we’re destined to bring to the screen.”

Rolin Jones (Anne Rice's Interview with the Vampire) will adapt The Grapes of Wrath and executive produce the series, with additional creative talent joining him for subsequent seasons. Producer Mark Johnson, who oversees the Anne Rice Immortal Universe for AMC and AMC+, is also attached to the series. Both Jones and Johnson have deals with AMC Studios.

“We’re thinking about Great American Stories like one of those resolute car factories in Michigan – bring in visionary creators, give them an assembly line of singular talent to build the thing, hand them the keys and get the hell out of the way,” Jones said. “This is Dan McDermott’s big, bold, torpedo bat swing at AMC. He’s hired me to roll a beauty off the factory floor every year. I hope to never have another job for the rest of my career.”

This would be the newest franchise for AMC, joining Breaking Bad, The Walking Dead and the Anne Rice universe. Johnson was involved with two of the three, after also serving as executive producer on Breaking Bad and its prequel Better Call Saul.

“Never have I felt more professional pressure than in accepting this challenge to help translate some legendary American stories to the television screen,” he said. “I am utterly grateful to AMC for this invitation and truly indebted to Rolin for his trust in me. What a terrifying opportunity!”