Set in the universe of the crime thriller Fargo, which was written and directed by the Coen Brothers, Noah Hawley created an anthology TV series of the same name for FX. Debuting in 2014, the show has garnered a dedicated fanbase, awards buzz, and positive ratings. After a long wait, fans are finally getting a fourth season this summer. This season will be set in the 1950s starring a cast led by Chris Rock, as is evident from the trailers and first look images. There are high hopes resting on season 4, after the reputation that its preceding seasons have garnered.
Here are 10 things that we know about Fargo season 4 that we know till now.
The Release Date
The premiere of season 4 is all set to debut on our screens on April 19, 2020. The release date was announced last month and showrunner Noah Hawley promises that the premiere and the subsequent episodes would be twice the size of season 3. The premiere would include two episodes and would then follow the format of one episode every week.
As usual, the show will be broadcasted on FX and its subsidiaries and distributed by MGM Domestic Television Distribution.
There Were Delays Because Noah Hawley's Plate Is Full
The new season is coming after a break of nearly two years because head writer Noah Hawley was busy writing and directing his other projects. These include the psychedelic sci-fi show Legion (also by FX) and the feature film Lucy In The Sky, which is set to be his directorial debut. Now, his film has wrapped up production, while Legion's final season is also over.
"I would say it’s twice the size of any story we’ve told, both financially and the scope of it, the scale of it, the period of it. There’s no reason to do this again unless I think it could be the best one yet." Hawley explains his hopes with the new season of Fargo.
Chris Rock Leads The Ensamble
Veteran comedian Chris Rock is really trying to break the conventions of being a funny man these days. He's already starring in a new David Fincher-like take on the Saw series, and now he's all set to play a sassy gangster from the 1950s.
Joining him are other talented actors like Timothy Olyphant (Deadwood), Jason Schwartzman (Rushmore), Ben Whishaw (James Bond series), Jack Huston (Boardwalk Empire), and Uzo Aduba (Orange Is The New Black).
The Plot Reinterprets The Mafia Genre
Chris Rock stars as Loy Cannon, the leader of an African-American gangster family which enters a mysterious alliance with an Italian mafia family. The two families exchange sons as a sign of friendship but this is what triggers a set of violent events.
The trailers tell us that we can expect a lot of plot twists, betrayals, and violence. While Italian crime families in America have been depicted time and again in cinema and TV, it is amusing to see a black gangster back in the times of segregation.
The Setting Changes To Kansas City
This is the first season of Fargo which is not set in Minnesota or the Dakotas. Instead, the location shifts to Kansas City, Missouri. Expect some stunning production design with period pieces, as the makers attempt to recreate Kansas of the 1950s.
Chronologically, this is going to be the oldest season, as the first and third season was set in the 2000s, while the second season takes place in 1979.
The Shooting Took Place In Chicago
The production of the show was mostly based at Cinespace Chicago Film Studios in Chicago. The studio has also seen other 'Chicago' based shows like Chicago Med, Chicago Fire, Chicago PD, and Empire. Production commenced from last year's October onwards.
There May Be Subtle Connections To Previous Seasons
Even though Fargo is an anthology series with different characters, time periods, and settings, there are subtle hidden references and Easter Eggs in each of the seasons which connect the show's universe. For instance, the second season, based in 1979, featured Patrick Wilson as the younger version of the character reprised by Keith Carradine in the first season, which was set in 2006.
Similarly, there might be a connection between Season 2 and Season 4. In the new season, Ben Whishaw is to play a rabi called Milligan. The last name is the same as the Kansas City mob enforcer Mike Milligan in season two. Considering the same surname and the city, there surely might be some indirect or direct connection between the two characters.
The Coens Return As Executive Producers
Of course, the show features the very first creators of the Fargo universe, Joel and Ethan Coen. The Coen Brothers have served as executive producers for the first three seasons and now return for the fourth season, too.
The Coens have been delighted to see their Academy Award-winning film get an expanded fandom. As mentioned before, there are several connections between all seasons. Similarly, some events even lead to the original film. For instance, in the first season, the ransom money is the same money that was buried in a subplot from the movie.
The Season Might Eye Some Emmys
The show has had won 3 Golden Globes in its entirety but has received several acting and technical nominations at the Emmys in the category of Miniseries (as each season has a separate storyline). Out of the countless Emmy noms, Fargo has managed to win some top Emmys like Outstanding Miniseries, Directing, and Casting. The show never won any acting Emmys though.
This time, too, with a talented cast and a consistent writer, the show might easily get some top Emmy and Golden Globe nominations. Would Chris Rock or any of the supporting actors win this time? That only time will tell.
This May Be The Final Season
As for a Fargo Season 5 goes, Noah Hawley has been giving mixed signals. As of now, he admits that he has no clues for Season 5 in his mind. But there might still be a possibility, as has been the case with every season of this FX show.
In an interview, he said "Every time I do one, I think it's the last one, and then some period of time passes, and I go "Oh, I could do that." I always joke that the next season could be on the Starship Fargo, Year 2150. Or we could go back and do 1812. Those are all available, but I don't have any plans at that moment to make any more." Just imagine if Starship Fargo becomes a reality!