Breaking Bad’s Aaron Paul to play Jack Daniel in TV drama

Actor Aaron Paul has been confirmed to play the founder of Jack Daniel’s, Jack Daniel, in a new TV drama based on a 2004 biography of the distiller’s life, Blood and Whisky: The Life and Times of Jack Daniel.

The TV drama series will be based on the 2004 biography by Peter Krass

Written by Peter Krass, Blood and Whisky details the real life story of Jack Daniel, the legendary Tennessee distiller who founded the Jack Daniel’s distillery in the 1800s. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Krass’ book is set to form the backdrop to a new TV drama series on the life of Jack Daniel, with Aaron Paul reportedly confirmed to play the lead.

Big names involved with the project include scriptwriter Andrew Colville, who has worked on the pro-whiskey 1960s series Mad Men and Lone Star, while Paul is expected to serve as an executive producer. Paul’s previous film credits include Need for Speed and A Long Way Down, but he is best known for his role as Jesse Pinkman in ABC’s hit drama about a cancer-stricken drug dealer, Breaking Bad.

The youngest of ten children, Jack Daniel became a moonshiner at the age of 15 after he was orphaned, according to biographer Krass, and went on to found the Jack Daniel’s whiskey brand in Lynchburg, Tennessee between 1866 and 1875, following the American Civil War.

In 1907, Jack handed the distillery over to two of his nephews, with Lemuel “Lem” Motlow later buying the second nephew out of the business. Daniel died from blood poisoning in Lynchburg in 1911, reportedly after kicking a safe in anger, triggering an infection in his toes, although this version of events is disputed.

Today, Jack Daniel’s is owned by Brown-Forman and is the biggest-selling American whiskey brand in the world, exporting 12.2 million 9-litres cases in 2015.

Its numerous labels include Old No. 7, the original Jack Daniel’s, Gentleman Jack, Tennessee Honey, Tennessee Fire and Sinatra Select – a tribute to Frank Sinatra – an open supporter of the Jack Daniel’s brand.

Aaron Paul, who played Jesse Pinkman in ABC’s Breaking Bad, has been cast as Jack Daniel