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Following the immense success of the miniseries Hatfield and McCoy from last year, starring Kevin Costner and Bill Pullman, this summer, HISTORY is telling the story of these two families, but 150 years later.
To this day, the Hatfields and McCoys still live along the West Virginia and Kentucky border on the same land where their ancestors waged America’s most notorious family feud. 150 years later, they are still working the coal mines and still making moonshine. Divided by the Tug River and generations of bad blood, they still don’t get along. Sure, over the years treaties have been signed and handshakes exchanged, but none of that can erase their violent past.
Now, the legendary clans are trying to put aside their hateful history and come together, even as old tensions run high. HATFIELDS AND McCOYS: WHITE LIGHTNING, premiering Thursday, August 1 at 10 p.m. on HISTORY®, follows the current real-life descendants of Randall McCoy and Devil Anse Hatfield as they face an opportunity that could rewrite history – or further propel their hatred well into the 21st century.
With moonshine now legal in West Virginia, seasoned liquor executive Monsell Darville is looking to bring an authentic new moonshine brand to market. He approaches McCoy patriarch Jim Quick, a direct maternal descendent of Randall McCoy, to boldly propose a business partnership with the Hatfields – one that would create a Hatfield & McCoy moonshine. This would require Jim to work alongside patriarch Mark Hatfield, the great-great-great grandson of Devil Anse Hatfield. It would also demand that both families reveal their secret moonshine recipes, supply their legendary well water and most importantly – work together and get along!
The Hatfields and McCoys are true American originals. A stubborn streak runs a mile wide in these parts, and long-held grudges can even pit brother against brother. Grannies talk trash and tote guns. Long-suffering wives try to keep hot-headed husbands in line. But nobody trusts an outsider.
It’s all a matter of history, principle and family pride for the warring clans. With millions of dollars at stake, is it possible to put their bad blood behind them? Can they stop seeing red and start making green? Or will their infamous history prevail and kill the chance of a lifetime?
What do you think? Will you watch Hatfields and McCoys? Follow me on Twitter for more scoop.