FX orders two, renews Fargo

Fargo replaces its cast every season

US cablenet FX has ordered two new limited series and renewed hit drama Fargo for a fourth season, with comedian Chris Rock attached to star.

Fox-owned FX has ordered Devs, a thriller set in a tech company, and Shogun, an adaptation of the 1975 bestselling novel.

In what FX is calling its largest international-scale production, 10-episode Shogun is an epic recreation of James Clavell’s novel. Set in feudal Japan, the shows charts the collision of two men, a tearaway English sailor and a Japanese lord, and a mysterious female samurai.

Produced by FX Productions, the series is written by Ronan Bennett and Rachel Bennette. Andrew Macdonald and Allon Reich of DNA TV will exec produce alongside Michael De Luca, Michaela Clavell, Tim Van Patten, Eugene Kelly and Bennett. Tom Winchester from DNA TV will serve as a producer on the series, while Georgina Pope will be co-producer.

Meanwhile, Devs comes from noted writer Alex Garland (Annihilation, Ex Machina). It follows a computer engineer investigating the secretive development division of her employer, a cutting-edge tech company, which she believes is behind her boyfriend’s murder.

The eight-episode series is produced by FX Productions and is set to premiere in 2019. Garland exec produces alongside Andrew Macdonald and Allon Reich of DNA TV plus Eli Bush and Scott Rudin.

Both shows were announced by John Landgraf, CEO of FX Networks and FX Productions.

Additionally, FX us returning to its hit drama anthology Fargo for a fourth run. Set in 1950, the fourth instalment stars comedian and actor Rock as the head of a criminal syndicate in Kansas City that has struck an uneasy peace with another crime outfit. With their peace liable to break at any time, everything changes when the other head dies in hospital.

Exec producer Noah Hawley (creator/showrunner/writer/director) will lead the creative team for the new season. Fargo is produced by MGM Television and FX Productions, with MGM Television serving as the lead studio and international distributor.