The classic 1960 Western action film is being reimagined as an eight-episode drama series

Enthusiasts of sweeping Westerns are set for a real treat as MGM+, the broadcaster behind programmes like Robin Hood, has just commissioned an eight-part drama series inspired by the legendary MGM Western picture, The Magnificent Seven. Executive producer Donald De Line, who also worked on Billy the Kid, is steering the project.

Filming is slated to commence in June 2026, with the series launching on MGM+ across the US, UK and additional territories worldwide. Located in the 1880s American wilderness, this fresh interpretation of the beloved Western saga unfolds following the brutal slaughter of a tranquil Quaker settlement by hired guns serving a rapacious and merciless property magnate.

In the Robert Vaughn film, seven skilled yet troubled guns-for-hire are enlisted by the community for protection, but as the group settles into village existence, they must grapple with whether employing violence is justifiable when defending people whose beliefs centre on pacifism.

MGM+ explained: “The series takes a deep dive into the stories behind each of the Seven; what’s at stake for them, and why they choose to take on this mission. Like the original, this updated take on the classic story explores themes of honor, sacrifice and redemption, focusing on morality, faith, and the cost of courage.”

The programme springs from the creative mind of celebrated writer Tim Kring, whom MGM+ chief Michael Wright has dubbed a “master storyteller”. Wright elaborated: “Tim, Donald De Line, Larry Mirisch, and Bruce Kaufman have crafted a series that delivers the energy of a classic western, honors the legacy of the original film, and reasserts its timeless themes of the power of unity against oppression and flawed heroes finding redemption by helping those who can’t help themselves.”

The groundbreaking 1960 picture transformed the Western landscape, with Movieweb proclaiming it amongst the finest Westerns ever produced, whilst devotees regard it as “one of the greatest Westerns ever made in cinematic history”.

Over the decades, audiences have flocked to IMDb to voice their admiration, with PyrolyticCarbon dubbing it a “brilliant classic”, noting: “There are so many moody looks between characters, and little movements or idiosyncrasies that just make each of the gunmen seem so real. Apparently, there were big egos behind the camera that caused these acts of showmanship, but unlike most films where the egos clash, here they just build the characters up without harming them.”

The reviewer continued their praise: “Yul Brynner and Steve McQueen are just wonderful, and James Coburn and Charles Bronson both put in equal performances. There’s just nothing about this film that you can fault, the script is kept light when required and the stunning score lifts up and the acting is huge but never too much. This is a must-see again and again.”

Kwhite-53010 awarded it a perfect 10 out of 10 stars, hailing it as the “best Western ever”, explaining: “Some may disagree with me but for my money this is the best Western ever made. The dialogue, the music, the scenery and the outstanding cast and direction all come together in perfect alignment. It is a movie I have watched many, many times since first seeing it at a very early age. Needless to say, I am a huge, huge Yul Brynner fan.”

Darrenbjones dubbed it “one of the finest action movies ever”, revealing: “The Magnificent Seven is a great western, it is however also one of the finest action movies ever made. Inspired by Seven Samurai, it spawned three sequels, a TV series, a modern remake and was the inspiration for a host of copycats from The Dirty Dozen through to the Expendables. All follow the same effective principle of a group of mismatched heroes join forces to defeat some villain.”

The 1960 classic serves as a reworking of Akira Kurosawa’s 1954 Japanese masterpiece Seven Samurai, and following its debut, it achieved both critical acclaim and box office triumph. Three follow-ups emerged: Return of the Seven, Guns of the Magnificent Seven and The Magnificent Seven Ride!

The movie also sparked The Magnificent Seven television series, which aired from 1998 to 2000 and featured Robert Vaughn in a recurring role as a judge who enlists the seven gunmen to safeguard the settlement where his loved ones reside. A reboot of the film hit the screens in 2016, featuring a star-studded cast including Denzel Washington, Chris Pratt, Ethan Hawke, Vincent D’Onofrio, Lee Byung-hun, Manuel Garcia-Rulfo, Martin Sensmeier and Peter Sarsgaard.

The upcoming series is the brainchild of Tim Kring, who also created the Emmy-nominated series Heroes, which enjoyed a four-season run on NBC. Lawrence Mirisch and Bruce Kaufman are also on board as executive producers.

The Magnificent Seven will be broadcast on MGM+.