Jemal Countess/Getty ImagesBilly Bob Thornton is coming to TV.
The Oscar winner is set to headline FX's Fargo, a limited series based on Joel and Ethan Coen's 1996 film, which was nominated for Best Picture, the network announced at the 2013 Summer Press Tour on Friday.
The 10-episode series goes into production this fall in Canada and debut in spring 2014. FX boss John Landgraf is confident the project "will do justice to the classic Coen Brother film of the same title." But Fargo fans shouldn't expect a remake as the series will feature an all-new "true crime" story.
Thornton isn't playing a character fans of the film will be familiar with, nor will anyone else. "There is no William H. Macy character, so there are no characters that are derived from the film Fargo," Landgraf explains. "But the show is. Still, it's hard to describe how remarkably true to the film it is. " Thornton is set to play Lorne Malvo, a manipulative man, per The Hollywood Reporter.
And while there is no female sheriff similar to Frances McDormand's character in the film, Landgraf reveals there will be a female cop on Fargo. "She's a young deputy. She's in her early 20s," he says. "She's not really the character from Fargo."
Landgraf says there is a potential for Fargo to become an anthology series à la American Horror Story as "the story of Fargo ends at the tenth episode of Fargo. Just like American Horror Story, the characters don't continue…it would have to be a whole new story."
FX also revealed some premiere dates for their returning series...or at least some premiere months.
American Horror Story: Coven is set to debut in October, while Justified, starring Timothy Olyphant, will return January 2014, as well cult animated series Archer.
Louis C.K.'s critically acclaimed comedy Louie's fourth season will return in May. (So. Far. Away.)