Boardwalk Empire is an American television series from premium cable network HBO, set in Atlantic City, New Jersey, during the Prohibition era. Starring Steve Buscemi, the show was adapted from a chapter about historical criminal kingpin Enoch "Nucky" Johnson in Nelson Johnson's book, Boardwalk Empire: The Birth, High Times, and Corruption of Atlantic City,[2] by Emmy Award-winning screenwriter and producer Terence Winter of The Sopranos.[3]
The first episode was directed by Martin Scorsese and was the most expensive pilot episode produced in television history. On September 1, 2010, HBO picked up the series for an additional 11 episodes.[4] The series debuted on September 19, 2010.[5]
Boardwalk Empire has received widespread critical acclaim and high ratings for HBO. It has been nominated for two Writers Guild of America Awards, for Best Writing in a Dramatic Series and Best Writing in a New Series, and was nominated for a Golden Globe for best Dramatic Series. In addition, Steve Buscemi was nominated for Best Actor in a Dramatic Series and Kelly MacDonald was nominated for Best Supporting Actress in a Series, Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television.