First Look: Lovie Simone as Mary Simms and Antonio Bell as her brother, Milo, who grapple with their orders to provide aid and comfort to President Lincoln's fugitive assassin in Manhunt (2024) on Apple TV+.

Mary Simms was enslaved by Samuel Mudd and later testified in the investigation into Lincoln’s killing.

“Mary Simms is someone that I came across in the transcript of the conspirators trial,” says producer and showrunner Monica Beletsky. “I found her extremely compelling. I knew that she kept house for Dr. Mudd and that her brother was considered Dr. Mudd’s carpenter. So with that in mind, when Booth needs a crutch, I have Milo, her brother, making the crutch.”

Manhunt is an adaptation of James L. Swanson’s novel about the pursuit of John Wilkes Booth.

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The upcoming Apple limited series “Manhunt” has added Anthony Boyle and Lovie Simone to its cast, Variety has learned.

The pair join previously announced series lead Tobias Menzies. The show is based on the book “Manhunt: The 12-Day Chase for Lincoln’s Killer” by James Swanson. Menzies will star as Edwin Stanton, Abraham Lincoln’s War Secretary and friend, who was driven nearly to madness by the need to catch Lincoln’s assassin, John Wilkes Booth (Boyle), and to carry out Lincoln’s legacy. The series will also feature Black historical figures, including Mary Simms (Simone), a former slave of the doctor who treated Booth’s injury and gave him safe harbor after his crime.

Some Background: Mary Simms was the first African American to testify on May 25, 1865, and likely faced the most counterattacks because she went first. As Samuel Mudd’s former slave, she easily identified him when questioned in court. Simms recalled Mudd’s conversations about President Lincoln and was quite familiar with Mudd’s distaste for him. (SOURCE) 

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Played on: Fri Feb 07 2025 13:42:17 GMT-0600 (Central Standard Time)