Bob Odenkirk, Oliver Platt, Kate Walsh and Glenn Howerton are among the stars joining Billy Bob Thornton, Martin Freeman and Colin Hanks in the FX limited series “Fargo,” an original adaptation of the classic Academy Award-winning feature film. The announcement was made today by Eric Schrier, President, Original Programming, FX Networks and FX Productions and Steve Stark, President, Television Production, MGM Television. Production begins in November in Calgary, Canada and the series is slated to premiere next spring on FX.
FX’s “Fargo” will feature an all-new “true crime” story, 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. As previously announced, 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 Martin Freeman. Colin Hanks plays Duluth Police Deputy Gus Grimly, a single dad who must choose between his own personal safety when he comes face-to-face with a killer.
Rounding out the cast of recurring characters will be Bob Odenkirk (“Breaking Bad”), as Deputy Bill Olson, a Bemidji deputy with seniority over his younger, smarter and more ambitious fellow deputy, Molly Solverson, played by Allison Tolman, who will be a series regular Oliver Platt will play Stavros Milos, the Supermarket King of Minnesota. Kate Walsh will star as Gina Hess, a former stripper and mother of teenaged twin boys. Glenn Howerton will play Don Chumph, an ambitious personal trainer. Joey King will play Gus’s daughter, Greta Grimly and Peter Breitmayer will play Lieutenant Schmidt, Gus’s superior officer. Tom Musgrave will portray Bo Munk, Lester’s boss at the Bo Munk Insurance Shop, and Josh Close will play Ron Nygaard, Lester’s younger and more successful brother. Russell Harvard and Adam Goldberg will play members of the Fargo Crime Syndicate, Mr. Wrench and Mr. Numbers, respectively Mr. Wrench is the muscle. Mr. Numbers is the mouth.
A 10-episode limited series, “Fargo” is written by Noah Hawley. Adam Bernstein (“30 Rock”) will direct the premiere hour. Executive Producers are Hawley, Warren Littlefield, Joel & Ethan Coen, and Geyer Kosinski. “Fargo” is produced by FX Productions and MGM Television.
MGM Television will be the lead studio and will handle worldwide distribution of the series outside of the U.S. and Canada.
