Wendell Pierce

Some exciting news from HBO today, especially for fans of The Wire. The network has picked up the New Orleans-set series Treme, which was created by The Wire boss David Simon and includes two of that show's cast members in its ensemble.

HBO is eying a Fall premiere date for the show, which chronicles the rebuilding of New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina through the eyes of musicians. Though Simon himself doesn't live in New Orleans, his co-creator (Eric Overmyer, a former Homicide writer) does, and cast member Wendell Pierce (The Wire's Bunk, pictured here) is a native of the city — all of which I'm hoping will give the show the same authenticity that The Wire had for Simon's hometown of Baltimore. Other cast members include Clarke Peters, Melissa Leo, Steve Zahn, and Khandi Alexander. Comparing the show to The Wire, Simon said:

This is not a Wire redo with a New Orleans soundtrack. It's more of a character study looking at people trying to reconstruct their lives after their city has been destroyed and at a city that a living, breathing organism.

Also today, the network moved forward with a pilot based on the fantasy novels Songs of Fire and Ice called Game of Thrones. Two key people from the film The Station Agent have signed on, with Peter Dinklage playing a key role and his Station Agent director, Tom McCarthy, on board to direct the pilot.

Do either of these sound like shows that could make your viewing schedule?

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It's hard for me to believe there are just three episodes left before The Wire goes off the air for good. But is the show's March finale really it forever?

In a recent interview with the LA Times, Dominic West (Jimmy McNulty) said he and some of the show's other main actors are trying to persuade creator David Simon to continue exploring Baltimore through a Wire movie. He said:

There’s just so much material and so many plot lines to go on, and I think Wendell [Barry, who plays Bunk] thought, why not make a movie? There’s a ready-made audience, and I think a lot of us feel it will be a long time before we get to act such great writing and with people we like as much as we all like each other.

West also said Simon "doesn't need persuading" to make a movie, but he does need a story — and he's apparently said it would need to be a prequel, which just makes me even more curious to see how the series ends.

It seems a little far-fetched; if Simon had five strong seasons planned out for The Wire, I'd hate to see him go messing with it by adding on. Then again, the prequel idea is interesting, and there were those back story videos made to promote this season, which revealed there's a lot more to these characters than what Simon has let us see on screen up till now. Could you imagine The Wire continuing in film form? Or do you think it's best to just leave the series be when it reaches its planned end?

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