Back in December we learned that AMC had picked up a new western drama called Hell on Wheels for 10-episode first season. This will be their first return to the western genre since their first original programming, Broken Trail. Now with a whole slew of successful shows like Mad Men and Breaking Bad in their backpocket, it appears AMC knows no bounds as this new series looks like another winner. The series follows the story of a former confederate soldier Cullen Bohannan (Anson Mount) whose quest for vengeance has led him westward to work on the construction of the first Transcontinental Railroad. No date is set, but the series will premiere sometime this year. I'll let the trailer speak for itself after the jump along with a more detailed synopsis.

Here's the official synopsis for Hell on Wheels:

Hell on Wheels tells the epic story of post-Civil War America, focusing on a Confederate soldier (Mount) who sets out to exact revenge on the Union soldiers who have killed his wife.  His journey takes him west to Hell on Wheels, a dangerous, raucous, lawless melting pot of a town that travels with and services the construction of the first transcontinental railroad, an engineering feat unprecedented for its time. The series documents the railroad's incredible feat of engineering and construction as well as the institutionalized greed and corruption, the immigrant experience, and the plight of the newly emancipated African-Americans during reconstruction.  Over time, "Hell on Wheels" chronicles this potent turning point in our nation's history, and how uncivilized the business of civilization can be.

In addition to Mount, Hell on Wheels stars musician/actor Common (Date Night) as Elam, Dominique McElligott (The Philanthropist) as Lily Bell, Colm Meaney (The Conspirator) as Durant, Ben Esler (The Pacific) as Sean McGinnes, Philip Burke (Mercy) as Mickey McGinnes and Eddie Spears (Into the West) as Brother Joseph.

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