Ethan Hawke, Sterlin Harjo pilot picked up for series at FX
Ethan Hawke and Sterlin Harjo’s FX drama pilot has been ordered to series at FX, Variety learned exclusively from sources.
The pilot was originally commissioned in February under the title “The Sensitive Kind” starring Hawke. Exact plot details are being kept under wraps, aside from the fact that it is being described as a “Tulsa noir about a man (Hawke) who knows too much.”
FX declined to comment.
The pilot was filmed in Oklahoma in April and May. Keith David, Siena East, Jeanne Tripplehorn, Tim Blake Nelson, Scott Shepherd, Tracy Letts, Kyle Maclachlan and Macon Blair all starred opposite Hawke in the pilot, with additional cast including Killer Mike, Kaniehtiio Horne, Cody Lightning, Michael Hitchcock and Ryan Kiera Armstrong.
Harjo created the series and serves as executive producer, while also directing the pilot. Hawke will executive produce in addition to starring, while Garrett Basch will also executive produce. FX Studios, where Harjo has an overall deal, will produce.
Harjo is best known for co-creating ‘Reservation Dogs’ with Taika Waititi. The series, which followed the lives of four Native teens on an Oklahoma reservation, ran for three critically acclaimed seasons on FX. The third and final season aired in late 2023 and earned Emmy nominations that season for best comedy series and best actor in a comedy (D’Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai). Harjo wrote and directed numerous episodes and also served as showrunner. Hawke appeared in the final season of ‘Reservation Dogs’ in the episode ‘Elora’s Dad’.
Hawke has been nominated for an Oscar four times – for his on-screen work in ‘Training Day’ and ‘Boyhood’ and for his co-writing of the films ‘Before Sunset’ and ‘Before Midnight’. He is also known for roles in films such as ‘The Purge’, ‘Dead Poets Society’ and ‘Before Sunrise’. He also recently starred in TV series like ‘The Good Lord Bird’ and ‘Moon Knight’, the latter of which came from Marvel Studios.
Hawke is repped by CAA, MGMT Entertainment and George Sheanshang. Harjo is represented by CAA, Circle of Confusion, Del Shaw Moonves.
News of the series order comes on the heels of FX announcing a series order for co-creator Ryan Murphy’s “The Beauty,” which stars Evan Peters as one of the show’s stars. That show is based on the Image Comics title of the same name, starring Ashton Kutcher, Jeremy Pope and Anthomy Ramos in addition to Peters. FX also recently had a banner night at the Emmys, with the network taking home the biggest awards show ever with 36 wins, thanks in large part to “Shogun” and “The Bear.”
