MIAMI (CBS5) – A new show set in South Florida is getting ready to make its debut.
Set in 1959 Miami Beach at the fictional luxury Miramar Playa Hotel, Havana has just fallen to Castro’s rebels and times are turbulent, but for the lead character, hotel owner Ike Evans, It’s time for his place to shine. Jeffrey Dean Morgan stars as Ike in the new Starz series Magic City.
”Welcome to my domain, my kingdom,” said Jeffrey Dean Morgan, sitting on the 150 thousand square foot set near Miami International Airport.
“The first time I walked on it, they blew my mind.”
But everything comes with a price. The series’ plot line revolves around Evans selling his soul to mob boss Ben Diamond in order to finance his dream hotel. Magic City draws on real life characters out of Miami’s history
“My character is loosely based on Ben Novack (owner of the famed Fontainebleau Hotel),” said Morgan. “The characters in the show are based on real guys and if you do your research on Miami you can put it together pretty quickly.”
Executive Producer and show creator Mitch Glazer, a graduate of Miami Beach High School, said shooting this big budget series in Miami was the only choice.
“For our show especially, Miami is a character. We are using the city a lot. Miami Beach, in my mind, is the largest movie set in the world,” said Glazer.
Actress Olga Kuryelenko plays Ike’s wife and admits she’s enjoying the glamour of that era.
“This film has made me want to be very fancy. I want to only want wear skis and dresses skirts. I want to be elegant” said Olga.
“Miami for me isn’t a casual partner. It’s the heart of the show and I’d love to be here for the run of it,” said Glazer
Magic City debuts at 10pm Friday, April 6 on Starz.
