Though Fargo didn’t necessarily seem like the first film people would consider adapting for television, US cable network FX disagreed, shoving it into development last year. Now we know who will be one of the leads: Billy Bob Thornton{
While the Hollywood Reporter heard from sources that Thornton would be playing a version of Steve Buscemi’s Lorne Malvo, head of FX John Landgraf told the Television Critics Association press tour that the show is only loosely inspired by the film and that the characters will be new. Oh, and he also dropped word that the limited series’ story is designed to be told in a finite number of episodes. "The story of Fargo ends at the 10th episode," Landgraf tells Hitfix. "It would have to be a whole new story in the tone and vernacular of the film."
Fargo filmmakers Joel and Ethan Coen are overseeing things as producers and provided show-runner Noah Hawley with a six-page document outlining their ideas, and including dialogue suggestions. That all makes sense when you consider they took home the Oscar for the 1996 movie’s screenplay.
In addition to Thornton’s character, the show will also feature a young female deputy investigating a crime, a switch from Frances McDormand’s pregnant veteran Marge Gunderson. The current plan is to kick off filming in the autumn ready for a spring 2014 airdate across the pond. There’s no word on whether any UK channel will pick it up yet.