FX's "Fargo" (Season 5)

[Walts Ghost]

FX To Make ‘Fargo’ TV Show With Joel And Ethan Coen

The classic Marge Gunderson quote “I just think I’m gonna barf” might comes to mind when you hear that FX has begun adapting the classic Coen Brothers film Fargo for television. But don’t go tossing your cookies just yet. While the idea was already attempted ten years ago without the Coen’s blessing both Joel and Ethan Coen will be executive producing this version of the show, an hour long project “loosely based” on the film written by Noah Hawley (My Generation, The Unusuals). Read more after the break.

Released in 1996, the comedic crime caper Fargo was a critical smash, winning two Oscars and still remains one of the most revered and influential films of the Nineties. The film’s unmistakable accents and cold, Northern setting were an instant trademark and obviously ripe for further exploration. And that’s exactly what happened in 2003 with a show starring Edie Falco in the lead. Kathy Bates directed. It didn’t get picked up.


According to Deadline, MGM owns the rights to the film and didn’t have to get the Coens’ blessing but, of course, it means everything that they did. The network – FX – also speaks volumes. It’s the network that brought us the brutality of The Shield and Nip/Tuck, the awkward humor of Wilfred and Louie and current hits like Sons of Anarchy and American Horror Story. They put out quality products and know how to handle oddities.

Not to mention, MGM recently turned an old film franchise into a successful show without bastardizing the original. It’s called Teen Wolf and is on MTV. I’ve never seen it, but its existence doesn’t ruin van surfing with Styles, does it?

One of the many things that made Fargo so great, though, was that it’s so specific to a time and place. There aren’t a lot of characters, so each is well-developed or at least well-defined. The story is tight, contained and well thought out where you never needed to go beyond its boundaries to be satisfied. Still you always wanted to know more about people with that accent, didn’t you?

I’m going to hold out ultimate judgement on this until we learn more about its story, tone and cast. After all, it’s still only being developed. What do you think about the idea?

Source

[Kleeberg]

From ComingSoon.net:

Billy Bob Thornton has signed on to star in the FX limited series "Fargo," an adaptation of the Academy Award-winning feature film of the same title by Joel & Ethan Coen, it was announced today by John Landgraf, CEO of FX Networks and FX Productions. Production begins this fall in Canada and the series is slated to premiere next spring on FX.

Thornton will play Lorne Malvo, a rootless, manipulative man who meets a small town insurance salesman and sets him on a path of destruction.

Thornton won the Academy Award for Outstanding Screenplay for Sling Blade, for which he also was nominated for Best Supporting Actor, and he was also nominated for Best Supporting Actor for A Simple Plan. He has four Golden Globe acting nominations for The Man Who Wasn’t There, A Simple Plan, Bandits, and Bad Santa.

A 10-episode limited series inspired by the film, FX's "Fargo" will feature an all-new “true crime” story, with the series following a new case and new characters, all entrenched in the trademark humor, murder and “Minnesota nice” that has made the film an enduring classic.

"Fargo" is written by Noah Hawley. Executive Producers are Joel & Ethan Coen, Warren Littlefield, and Geyer Kosinski. Fargo is produced by FX Productions and MGM Television. Emmy Award-winning director Adam Bernstein ("30 Rock") will direct the premiere hour.

MGM Television will handle worldwide distribution of the series outside of the U.S. and Canada.

Fargo, released in 1996, was nominated for seven Academy Awards® and won for Best Original Screenplay for Joel & Ethan Coen and Best Actress for Frances McDormand. It was named as one of the 100 Greatest American Movies by the American Film Institute. A wildly unique blend of comedy, drama and thriller, the film starred Frances McDormand as a pregnant Minnesota police chief pursuing two bumbling criminals hired by a car salesman to kidnap his wife.

[Foggy]

Considering the Coen's are onboard, I'm feeling quite confident about this.

Although I'd prefer if we got the Coen brothers to develop their own mini series, how good would that be?

[AnimalChin]

looks interesting, I'll definitely check this one out

[djariya]

At least we know it's a limited series and will have an ending after 10 episodes.

I love TV just as much as anyone here, but not every serialized show needs a 5-7 year arc. Doing a 1 and done series is fine.

[chris_sc77]

Billy Bob , FX, TV series . SOLD! can't wait

[SquidPuppet]

Rootless? LMAO

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by djariya

At least we know it's a limited series and will have an ending after 10 episodes.

Well, yes and no. Apparently, the FX head honcho has acknowledged there is the possibility of further seasons, but focussed on different sets of characters. Much like what they're doing with American Horror Story.

[Walts Ghost]

Billy Bob Thornton Cast as Lead Baddie in ‘Fargo’ TV Series

Briefly: FX is moving into the limited series market with Fargo, inspired by the Joel and Ethan Coen movie of the same name. Fargo was the film that really put the Coens on the mainstream map almost 20 years ago, and this is the second time the film has been used as the basis for a TV show. The series being developed at FX isn’t exactly a TV remake of the Coen Brothers film, however, as it will feature new characters and crimes — the connecting thread will be the location and regional Minnesota quirks


The first casting news is just starting to come out, and Deadline reports that Billy Bob Thornton will play one of the lead roles. He’s Lorne Malvo, “a rootless, manipulative man who meets a small town insurance salesman and sets him on a path of destruction.” So he’s more or less the antagonist, somewhere between the Steve Buscemi and Peter Stormare roles from the film.

The other significant report to come out of the FX panel today is that while this run of Fargo will go for only ten episodes, success could help the show transform into an American Horror Story-style anthology that presents a new story and character set each season.

Source 1

Martin Freeman Will Star In ‘Fargo’ TV Series

The Office, The Hobbit, Sherlock, Martin Freeman seems to be everywhere these past few years. Adding to his already impressive, and growing, resume the actor, who was also recently seen in The World’s End, has just signed on to play the William H. Macy role in the FX mini-series based on the Coen Brothers’ movie Fargo. Billy Bob Thornton previously signed on to co-star in the 10 episode show that’ll follow a new case with the same tone and Minnesota setting as the Oscar-winning 1996 film.

The Hollywood Reporter was one of the outlets who first reported the news. According to the story, Freeman will play Lester Nygaard, a role loosely inspired by William H. Macy’s Jerry Lundegaard. Lester is fed up with his life, wife and things take a dramatic change when a mysterious stranger (Thornton) comes to town.

The Coen Brothers are executive producing the series with Noah Hawley writing. Production begins next month in Canada aimed at a Spring 2014 premiere.

Source 2

[Walts Ghost]

This show is shaping up very nicely. I can't wait to see how it turns out. I love the cast so far.

[Moviefan1203]

Really nice casting.

[Walts Ghost]

Originally Posted by Moviefan1203

Really nice casting.

Definitely agreed. Really looking forward to seeing how this is handled.

[jamesdevil]

Second time's the charm?

Obviously with the Coen's involved and FX this will actually make it to more than one episode.

[SquidPuppet]

Merge.

https://forum.blu-ray.com/showthread...ighlight=fargo

[Scottie]

Count me in. Fargo's one of my favorite movies of all time.

[Walts Ghost]

Originally Posted by SquidPuppet

Merge.

https://forum.blu-ray.com/showthread...ighlight=fargo

This thread was the first of the two, so you'll want to merge that one to this one.

[SquidPuppet]

Originally Posted by Walts Ghost

This thread was the first of the two, so you'll want to merge that one to this one.

I created neither, nor am I a moderator. Just bringing the need for a merge to attention.

[Walts Ghost]

FX’s ‘Fargo’ Adds Kate Walsh, Joey King And Josh Close

EXCLUSIVE: Kate Walsh, Joey King and Josh Close have joined the cast of Fargo, FX‘s first limited series. Joel and Ethan Coen are executive producing the 10-episode series inspired by their 1996 pic, with the new incarnation featuring a new story and characters. FX Prods and MGM Television are producing, with writer Noah Hawley, Warren Littlefield, and Geyer Kosinski also exec producing. Billy Bob Thornton, Martin Freeman, Oliver Platt and Colin Hanks already are aboard.

Walsh will play Gina, a trophy wife-type and reluctant mother of twin sons. The one-time star of ABC‘s Private Practice will next be seen this fall in Neil LaBute’s DirecTV series Full Circle and her upcoming feature roles include Lorne Michaels’ Staten Island Summer and the indie thriller Dermaphoria. She is repped by CAA and Evolution Entertainment. King, who just finished shooting Zach Braff’s Kickstarter-born pic Wish I Was Here, will play Greta, the daughter of Hanks’ police deputy, a single father who comes face-to-face with a killer. She is repped by Dan Spilo at Industry Entertainment and Coast to Coast Talent Group. Close will play Ron, the brother of Freeman’s small-town insurance salesman Lester Nygaard. The casting reunites Close and Hawley, who worked together on ABC’s The Unusuals. Close, repped by Untitled Entertainment and Don Buchwald & Associates, was most recently in Paul Thomas Anderson’s The Master and FX’s Justified.

Source

[r_webb18]

Bob Odenkirk, Glenn Howerton Join FX’s ‘Fargo’

http://variety.com/2013/tv/news/bob-...go-1200715433/

[Walts Ghost]

First images released:

FX has said that the 10-episode series will feature new characters and a new crime story, although Martin Freeman's character (seen above) is loosely based on William H. Macy's role in the movie ... it looks like he gets a little more physical though.
And while we'll miss Frances McDormand's Marge Gunderson, we can't wait to hear Deputy Molly Solverson's (Allison Tolman) accent and attitude as she investigates the crime coming to Bemidji, don'tcha know.
Speaking of Bemidji, Minn., it is a real city, which they'll almost certainly draw from a bit like they did with Brainerd in the film. A nod to the fact that it's apparently the curling capital of the U.S. would be epic. Just sayin'.