Hawley bets far cry tv will be anthology, ditching game adaptations
Noah Hawley, the creative force behind Fargo and Alien: Earth, is taking a decidedly unconventional approach to the upcoming Far Cry television series. Forget direct adaptations of existing games – Hawley’s vision is a sprawling anthology, a series of interconnected stories exploring the franchise’s core themes of civilization crumbling under pressure.
A gamble on narrative, not nostalgia
In a recent interview with Deadline, Hawley explained his strategy: “One thing that really attracted me to the Far Cry franchise is that it is an anthology and every time they release a new game it is a totally different story.” He’s essentially applying the model he successfully employed with Fargo – a series of self-contained narratives linked by a common thread – to the video game world. The aim? To build a distinct, evolving story arc rather than meticulously recreating past experiences.
“We can have a larger conversation about the strengths and weaknesses of adapting video games specifically because games are built in a way that doesn’t make for the best drama,” Hawley noted, a surprisingly critical assessment of the medium. He’s right to be skeptical; translating the visceral, often fragmented experience of a video game into a cohesive, character-driven television show presents a significant challenge. The inherent limitations of gameplay – the segmented progression, the reliance on cutscenes – create a dramatic disconnect.
Rob McElhenney, of It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, has already been cast as one of the series’ leads, though the specifics of his role remain under wraps. Hawley insists he’s crafting a completely original story, ensuring the focus remains firmly on compelling characters and a richly realized world, unbound by the constraints of pre-existing game lore. “I’m not specifically adapting any of the games that they’ve put out – I’m saying much as I did with the Coens or X-Men [he created FX’s Legion] or Alien, ‘Let me have a dialog with this franchise, because this is what I think a Far Cry story is.’
Production is slated to begin in London at Pinewood Studios, a strategic choice allowing Hawley to simultaneously oversee the development of Far Cry and the long-awaited second season of Alien: Earth, which promises to be “bigger” than its predecessor. The series, a joint venture with Ridley Scott, is already generating considerable buzz, and Hawley’s commitment to a fresh, inventive approach suggests a truly ambitious undertaking.