Wow. FX is making some huge moves, adding a new channel called FXX to the network, bringing the total to three (FX, FXM, FXX), each targeting a specific demographic. FX is home to shows like Sons of Anarchy, American Horror Story, Justified (which has been renewed for a fifth season), It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, Archer, The League, The Americans, Louie, Brand X with Russell Brand, and more. The network’s President and General Manager John Landgraf said in a press release:
“With this expansion, FX, FXX and FXM will specifically target one of the three major adult demos, enabling us to focus on creating passionate engagement across the entire range of adult viewers ages 18 to 54. This will enable the FX Networks to deliver more impressions and gain greater reach across all key adult demos without falling into the ‘all things to all people’ pitfall that plagues broadcast television.”
Three of the network’s comedy series’ will kick off their next seasons on the new FXX “comedy-centric” network, including It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia, Legit, and The League. In addition to this move, the network has a laundry list of new programming on the way from some serious top tier contenders.
First up is a “limited-series” adaptation of the Coen Brothers FARGO, which will be a 10-episode series based on characters from the 1996 Oscar-winning film. Here’s the details on that:
FX’s Fargo, a 10-episode limited series inspired by the film, will follow an all-new “true crime” story. The series will follow a new case and new characters, all entrenched in the trademark humor, murder and “Minnesota nice” that has made the film an enduring classic. “For years, people have tried to adapt this Academy Award®-winning gem into a TV series with no success,” said Landgraf. “I have always loved Fargo and I was skeptical about this as a series, but Noah Hawley’s script made me a believer.
This script is so good and so true to the tone of the original movie.” “MGM Television is thrilled to be producing a fresh and exciting re-envisioning of Fargo for FX’s television audience. With the stellar creative team lead by Noah Hawley, Joel & Ethan Coen and Warren Littlefield, we are re-imagining one of the most iconic titles from MGM’s rich film library,” said Roma Khanna, President Television and Digital, MGM. “FX is the perfect partner for the series and we look forward to working with them on our shared vision of captivating audiences within the unique world of Fargo.”
Other limited-series’ coming to the network are outlined below:
Mayflower
This series is an unflinching portrait of the Puritan settlers at Plymouth Colony and their uneasy alliance with the local Native Americans. The series will be executive produced by Gil Netter (Life of Pi, The Blind Side) and marks his first foray into television. Serving alongside Netter as Executive Producers are Dan Carey and Paul Giamatti (Sideways, John Adams). Doug Miro and Carlo Bernard (The Sorcerer’s Apprentice) are writing the series and executive producing. Produced by FX Productions in association with Touchy Feely Films.Grand Hotel
In this series, an international luxury hotel in Paris turns into a hellish trap when it becomes the center of a terrorist attack. Written and executive produced by Richard McBrien (Merlin, Wallander), Grand Hotel will also be executive produced by Pippa Harris (Revolutionary Road, Jarhead), Sam Mendes (Skyfall, American Beauty), and Alain & Vassili Clert (Spiral).Mad Dogs
Based on the British series and written by Cris Cole (Mad Dogs, The Bill), this series follows the reunion of four forty-something guys who head to Belize to visit their old school friend, when things take an unexpected and dark turn. Shawn Ryan (The Shield, Terriers, The Chicago Code) will serve as Executive Producer alongside Cole. Produced by Sony Pictures Television, in association with Left Bank.Sutton
Based on the novel “Sutton” by J.R. Moeringher, this extraordinary journey begins on Christmas Eve 1969, when Willie “The Actor” Sutton – Irishman, lover, folk hero, and the most prolific bank robber in American history – stepped out of Attica Prison and boarded a plane for New York City, where he proceeded to take a reporter and photographer on a five-borough guided tour of his remarkable life and crimes. Written and executive produced by Rob Siegel (The Wrestler, Big Fan), Sutton will be executive produced by Jim Burke (The Descendants, Cedar Rapids), Michael De Luca (Moneyball, The Social Network), Alexander Payne (The Descendants, Sideways),) and Jim Taylor (The Descendants, Sideways). Produced by FX Productions.
Lastly, FX has released into on their latest comedy pilots, one from BEING JOHN MALKOVICH’s Charlie Kaufman and Eastbound and Down’s Danny McBride.Check out the details below:
Academy Award winner Charlie Kaufman, who brought us such brilliantly original films as Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind and Being John Malkovich returns to half-hour television with How and Why, the story of a man who can explain how and why a nuclear reactor works, but is clueless about life. Kaufman will write and direct the pilot and serve as executive producer. FX Productions will produce.
Grant Dekernion is writing and executive producing Chozen, an animated comedy about a white rapper, recently out of prison, who uses his new survival skills in his quest for redemption. Danny McBride and Rough House Pictures, the team behind Eastbound & Down, will executive produce along with Floyd County Productions. Characters will be voiced by Saturday Night Live’s Bobby Moynihan, Michael Pena, Hannibal Buress, Kathryn Hahn, Nick Swardson and Danny McBride. FX Productions will produce.
So, if your DVR is overflowing now, just go ahead and prepare for it to start bursting at the seams. FX is producing some of the best shows on television and it looks to be getting better with this new announcement and line up of upcoming shows, which frequently beat their box office counterparts in terms of content and execution.