Joel and Ethan Coen are cinematic luminaries. Their wide range of classics include The Big Lebowski, Blood Simple, A Serious Man, and No Country For Old Men with the latter bringing the siblings the Academy Award for Best Director.
But, having dominated the world of Hollywood, they’re now descending to the small screen by adapting their 1996 movie Fargo for television. Joel and Ethan are set to oversee the show, and it will be in the one-hour episode format with the pair working as executive producers.
The original granted the Coens the best original screenplay award at the Oscars, and Joel’s wife Frances McDormand was ladened with the best actress accolade at the same ceremony. This decision by MGM studios is part of the company’s plan to adapt properties that it owns for the small screen through MGM Television, which will be broadcast on the FX channel.
It’s the second attempt to produce a Fargo show, which in 2003 saw Edie Falco, she of The Sopranos’ fame, starred as Gunderson. Kathy Bates directed the pilot, but, unfortunately, it never developed into a full series.
Fargo’s TV series is set to revolve around Gunderson again with Noah Hawley, the creator of The Unusuals and My Generation , writing and producing the series.
For those not in the know, Coens’ crime comedy drama sees Gunderson investigate a murder after a local car dealer with huge money problems (William H. Macy) hires two criminals (Steve Buscemi and Peter Stormare) to kidnap his wife in order to extort money from his father-in-law. It’s great, so you should watch it if you’ve missed it.
