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Fargo - 10-episode limited series on FX - Thorton / Freeman - Premieres April 15

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There were a few more tidbits of news on Fargo this week, so I thought it was a good time for a new thread to carry us until the show premieres in April. Billy Bob Thornton and Martin Freeman are the leads, and the cast also includes Colin Hanks & Bob Odenkirk, among others. Keegan-Michael Key and Jordan Peele have joined the cast, too. This is a limited series that will run 10 episodes. The Coen brothers are serving as executive producers with Noah Hawley as showrunner.

First: Teaser vid from FX's Fargo

Also:
EW said:
Comedians Keegan-Michael Key and Jordan Peele have joined the cast of FX’s Fargo.

The stars of Comedy Central’s sketch comedy show Key & Peele will play
FBI partners Webb Pepper (Peele) and Bill Budge (Key), who, after a violent run-in with Lorne Malvo (Billy Bob Thornton), become obsessed with finding him again.

Fargo is a 10-episode anthology series that debuts April 15 on FX. The comedy duo will guest star in an arc that will span the final four episodes.

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EDIT:

- First full trailer: "Story"
 
Yup, I'm hopeful. It's just one of those things where when you first hear the idea you kind of instinctively recoil.
Definitely.

Also, just to clarify the Coen brothers involvement, I believe they read the script and gave it their blessing, but they're not actively participating in the show.
 
Here's a few details from the Fargo TCA panel in January.
The 10-episode limited series will follow an all-new "true crime" story with a new case and characters, all steeped in the humor, murder and "Minnesota nice" of the original. Thornton stars as Lorne Malvo, a decidedly more serious heavy than the one portrayed by Steve Buscemi in the feature; Sherlock's Freeman steps into the role of the bumbling salesman, Lester Nygaard, that was played by William H. Macy. Newcomer Allison Tolman brings a new twist on McDormand's clever cop.

Hawley noted that the series, which he approached as a 10-episode movie, will stand on its own for anyone who has not seen the original Fargo.

"After a season or two of the show, people who see the movie might say that was a great episode of Fargo. Each season is a separate true crime story from that region. The movie now fits into the series as another true crime story from the region," Hawley said. "I don't think you need to it watch before [watching the series], but I think you should watch it because it's a great movie, but you don't need to."

Producers noted that the Coen brothers -- who don't typically produce other people's work -- were given the choice to put their names on the FX drama and were impressed by Hawley's script. (The showrunner penned every episode of the series.)

"TV is not their medium as they've said, and they told me to go ahead and make my show," he said. "We showed them the first show and Ethan said, 'Yeah, good.'"
 
The only surprise was seeing a teaser for it last night during Justified. The cast and decision to make a series out of this movie always had my attention.
 

Hmmm I don't like that they're returning to old characters from the movie being played with new actors. Would rather they just make it its own separate thing, I can't separate William H Macy and Frances McDormand from their characters.


EDIT: except Lester Nygaard isn't Jerry Lundegard. I guess I misinterpreted and it's just saying those actors are filling the old archetypes, not the same exact character? Carry on then
 
Fargo OT? So early? Anyway, will definitely give this a try.
This isn't the OT - just an informational thread that we can use to post news before the OT goes up in April.
Hmmm I don't like that they're returning to old characters from the movie being played with new actors. Would rather they just make it its own separate thing, I can't separate William H Macy and Frances McDormand from their characters.
From what I've read, it sounds like they're (hopefully) different enough to distance themselves from the original characters.
 
Marge Gunderson: So that was Mrs. Lundegaard on the floor in there. And I guess that was your accomplice in the wood chipper. And those three people in Brainerd. And for what? For a little bit of money. There's more to life than a little money, you know. Don'tcha know that? And here ya are, and it's a beautiful day. Well. I just don't understand it.
 

Niraj

I shot people I like more for less.
I was reading about this yesterday. Might check it out, but I don't know. I'm still skeptical.
 
Interested but at the same time, debating if streaming in one go would be the better option so it plays out like a proper movie.

Still, can't wait.
 
They better do the accents or I'll be pissed. Yeah, they were over the top in the Fargo but they are funny and it came from a good place (the Coen Brothers are from Minnesota).
 

Dan

No longer boycotting the Wolfenstein franchise
Also, the next bit is worth noting, too.
"When Ethan says, 'Yeah, good' he's over the moon," notes Thornton (who worked with the Coens on "The Man Who Wasn't There" and "Intolerable Cruelty").

EDIT: except Lester Nygaard isn't Jerry Lundegard. I guess I misinterpreted and it's just saying those actors are filling the old archetypes, not the same exact character? Carry on then
Yeah, I think it's more that they're starting with some of the same archetypes, not using the same characters. In fact, I don't think there's any analogue to Frances McDormand's character at all.
 
Sounds great. Fargo wasn't a straight up comedy, so I wonder how well they'll balance that with the more serious subject matters.
 
I actually watched Fargo for the first time a couple of weeks ago. I didn't even know of the movie's existence until then. Maybe I'll give this a watch, too.
 
FX press release on the Key & Peele casting. It also includes details on some of the other characters. Some very minor spoilers in the descriptions.
COMEDIANS KEY AND Peele JOIN THE CAST OF FX'S "FARGO"

Duo Will Portray FBI Agents in Four-Episode Arc 10-Episode Limited Series Debuts April 15 on FX

Los Angeles, CA - February 26, 2014 - Comedians Keegan-Michael Key and Jordan Peele have joined the cast of the highly-anticipated Fargo, which will debut April 15 on FX. The comedy duo will guest star in an arc that will span the final four episodes of the 10-episode limited series.

Key and Peele, stars of Comedy Central's hit sketch comedy show Key & Peele, will play FBI partners Webb Pepper (Peele) and Bill Budge (Key),
who, after a violent run-in with Lorne Malvo (Billy Bob Thornton), become obsessed with finding him again. Their search ultimately brings them to Bemidji, Minnesota, and into the larger circle of the show.

Fargo, the 10-part limited drama series from Writer/Executive Producer Noah Hawley, and Executive Producers Warren Littlefield, Joel & Ethan Coen, and Geyer Kosinski, is an original adaptation of the Academy Award(R)-winning feature film of the same title by the Coen brothers. Fargo features an all-new "true crime" story and follows a new case and new characters, all entrenched in the trademark humor, murder and "Minnesota nice" that made the film an enduring classic.

Oscar(R) winner Billy Bob Thornton stars as "Lorne Malvo,"
a rootless, manipulative man who meets and forever changes the life of small town insurance salesman
"Lester Nygaard," played by BAFTA Award(R) winner and Emmy(R)-nominated Martin Freeman. Colin Hanks plays Duluth Police Deputy "Gus Grimly,"
a single dad who must choose between his own personal safety and his duty as a policeman when he comes face-to-face with a killer.
Allison Tolman also stars as "Molly Solverson," an ambitious Bemidji deputy. Other stars include Bob Odenkirk, Oliver Platt, Adam Goldberg, Kate Walsh, Glenn Howerton, and Keith Carradine. Fargo is produced by MGM Television and FX Productions. MGM is distributing the show worldwide outside of US and Canada.
 
Been seeing the teasers lately, had no idea the cast was so strong. Seems destined to be phenomenal, hoping it serves as a bit of a bounce-back for FX drama after the uneven "The Bridge." Not that they really need one, just being needlessly harsh because Landgraf and crew have set my expectations so high.
 

mattiewheels

And then the LORD David Bowie saith to his Son, Jonny Depp: 'Go, and spread my image amongst the cosmos. For every living thing is in anguish and only the LIGHT shall give them reprieve.'
Thinking about Fargo just made me look up how Prince was in the credits of the movie but not in it. I guess that was a joke? That always made me scratch my head. And yeah, I know he's from MN.
 

boingball

Member
Cautiously hyped for this. Would be definitely hyped if the Coen brothers were actually producers or even better directors of at least some of the shows.
 
After a season or two of the show, people who see the movie might say that was a great episode of Fargo.

Hm, I suppose you could say the same thing about A Simple Plan, though it doesn't share the humorous angle (and Billy Bob is already in the Fargo show.)
 
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