Fargo’s Future Put on Hold as Showrunner Shifts Focus to New Alien Series

Fans of Fargo, the critically acclaimed crime anthology series from FX, may be in for a longer wait before its next season hits the screens. According to John Landgraf, FX’s chairman, the show’s creator, Noah Hawley, has shifted his attention to another major project—Alien: Earth, a sci-fi prequel to the Alien film series.

In an interview with Variety, Landgraf revealed that FX has asked Hawley to focus on Alien: Earth, at least for the near future. “We’ve informed him that, assuming Alien: Earth becomes a recurring TV series, we want him to prioritise writing at least two seasons of it before he considers returning to work on a possible sixth season of Fargo,” Landgraf said.

For fans of the Fargo series, this news might be a disappointment, especially since there’s no clear indication of when Hawley might resume work on Fargo. However, there’s a silver lining. Hawley has already completed filming for the first season of Alien: Earth, which means the project is moving forward swiftly. “We’ve just wrapped production, so now I’m entering the long post-production phase, which includes visual effects,” Hawley explained.

The upcoming series, Alien: Earth, extends the popular Alien franchise and is set to star Sydney Chandler, best known for her role in Sugar. Another notable addition to the cast is Timothy Olyphant, an actor who joined the production last November, having previously starred in Justified.

While the exact storyline of Alien: Earth remains under wraps, Landgraf has previously hinted at some details. The series will be set in the near future and, for the first time in the Alien franchise, will take place on Earth. However, fans will have to wait a little longer for its premiere, as no official release date has been announced yet.

Fargo most recently returned for its fifth season last autumn, boasting a stellar cast including Juno Temple, Jon Hamm, and Lamorne Morris. The season earned six Emmy nominations this year, including one for Best Limited Series, as well as acting nominations for Temple, Hamm, and Morris.

This isn’t the first time Fargo has taken a long hiatus between seasons. The gap between its fourth and fifth seasons was three years, and before that, fans had to wait another three years between seasons three and four. It’s clear that the show has a history of lengthy breaks, which only builds anticipation among its dedicated audience. However, the wait for Season 6 might be the longest yet, given Hawley’s new commitments.

With the success of both Fargo and the Alien franchise, it’s understandable why FX is keen to capitalise on both. The network appears to be banking on Hawley’s ability to bring Alien: Earth to life while ensuring that Fargo remains a high-quality production when it eventually returns.

As for now, it seems that fans of both franchises will need to be patient. While Fargo continues to garner critical acclaim, Alien: Earth promises to bring a fresh take on the beloved sci-fi saga. It remains to be seen when exactly both shows will continue their journeys, but with Hawley at the helm, there’s little doubt that they’ll be worth the wait.

In the meantime, the buzz surrounding the first season of Alien: Earth is building, as fans of the Alien franchise are eager to see how the series will evolve on the small screen. With Fargo already an Emmy-nominated powerhouse, it’s likely that Hawley’s new venture will receive similar critical acclaim. Both shows stand as a testament to Hawley’s creative vision, and fans will undoubtedly keep an eye on developments for both projects in the months to come.

For now, Fargo enthusiasts will have to content themselves with the knowledge that the show will eventually return. And while the wait may be long, history has shown that Hawley’s dedication to his craft typically results in compelling and award-winning television. As Alien: Earth takes shape and Fargo awaits its next chapter, fans can rest assured that quality entertainment is on the horizon—even if it takes a bit longer than anticipated.

In summary, Fargo fans may need to adjust their expectations for when the series will continue. Noah Hawley’s current focus on Alien: Earth signals a new chapter for the Alien franchise and delays the return of Fargo. While this news might be disappointing for some, the payoff is expected to be well worth the wait. Fans of both shows can look forward to the eventual return of Hawley’s distinctive storytelling, but patience will be key