Hulu Orders Pilot for Gritty 'Southern Bastards' TV Series

Image Comics' acclaimed Southern crime saga, Southern Bastards, is officially heading to Hulu! The streaming giant has just greenlit a pilot episode, bringing an all-star creative team to Craw County, Alabama.

TL;DR: The Quick Scoop on 'Southern Bastards'

• Hulu has officially ordered a pilot episode for a TV series adaptation of Image Comics' Southern Bastards.
• Critically acclaimed director Nia DaCosta (Candyman, The Marvels) is attached to direct and co-write the pilot, alongside Ozark co-creator Bill Dubuque.
• The show will follow a tenacious military veteran who returns home to uncover a dark web of organized crime run by a powerful high school football coach.

Get ready for a deep dive into the seedy underbelly of a small Southern town, because Southern Bastards is officially in the works at Hulu! Fans of Jason Aaron and Jason Latour's award-winning Image Comics series have been dreaming of this day, and now it's happening with some serious talent behind the camera. This isn't just another comic book adaptation; it's shaping up to be a compelling, dark crime drama that could easily be your next streaming obsession.

Who's Bringing This Intense Southern Story to Our Screens?

Hulu isn't messing around with the creative team for Southern Bastards. Leading the charge is none other than Nia DaCosta, the acclaimed director behind hits like 2021's chilling Candyman and the recent Marvel blockbuster The Marvels. DaCosta is set to direct the pilot episode and will also share a story credit and executive produce through her banner, The Once and Future, Inc. Her involvement alone tells us this show is aiming for a high-quality, distinctive vision.

Joining DaCosta on writing and executive producing duties is Bill Dubuque, the brilliant mind who co-created Netflix's Emmy-winning crime series, Ozark. If you loved the dark, twisty narrative and complex characters of Ozark, you know Dubuque knows his way around a compelling crime story. He also wrote the feature films The Accountant and its upcoming sequel, The Judge, and recently executive produced Peacock's crime thriller M.I.A., so he’s definitely got the genre down.

Running the show as showrunner and executive producer is Matt Olmstead, a true veteran of the crime drama world. Olmstead has co-created and showrun major network hits like Chicago P.D. and Chicago Med, and has served as showrunner on popular series such as Chicago Fire, Prison Break, and NYPD Blue. His extensive experience in crafting long-running, engaging police and crime procedurals makes him a perfect fit to steer the ship for Southern Bastards.

And let's not forget the original visionaries! Comic creators Jason Aaron and Jason Latour are also on board as executive producers, ensuring that the TV adaptation stays true to the spirit and grit of their original work. Additional executive producers include Gabrielle Nadig and Layne Eskridge for POV Entertainment, with the project coming from Onyx Collective, POV Entertainment, and Proximity Media, in association with Fifth Season, where Dubuque has an overall deal.

What's the Story: Diving Into the Dark Heart of Craw County?

For those unfamiliar with the comic, Southern Bastards isn't your average small-town drama. The pilot will plunge us into the fictional Craw County, Alabama, a place where high school football is king, BBQ is a way of life, and organized crime lurks just beneath the surface. The story centers on a tenacious military veteran, likely Roberta Tubb from the comics, who returns to her estranged father's hometown looking for answers. But instead of finding closure, she stumbles into a "murderous hornet's nest of organized crime."

At the heart of this criminal empire is Euless Boss, the winningest high school football coach in the South, who has leveraged his local celebrity into a sprawling criminal enterprise. The comic depicts him as someone who went from winning trophies to literally burying bodies under the bleachers. The series promises to explore themes of vengeance, corruption, and the dark secrets that small towns can hold, all wrapped up in a distinctly Southern gothic package. If you like your crime dramas with a heavy dose of atmosphere and morally ambiguous characters, this one's for you.

The Comic That Started It All: A Look Back at a Gritty Masterpiece

The Southern Bastards graphic novel series, published by Image Comics, first hit shelves in 2014 and quickly garnered critical acclaim. It ran for 21 issues, concluding in 2018, and during its run, it racked up some serious awards. It won the 2015 Harvey Award for Best New Series and both the 2016 Eisner Award for Best Continuing Series and Best Writer for Jason Aaron. These accolades highlight the comic's impactful storytelling and compelling characters.

Co-creator Jason Aaron himself has spoken about the influences behind the comic's unique tone, citing the legendary Coen Brothers as a major inspiration:

"When I talk about the Coen Brothers, it's their ability to juggle comedy and drama from scene to scene, sometimes within the same moment, and that's really hard to do. Just looking at some of the Coen Brothers' darkest movies, they are also some of their funniest, and that's what I'm shooting for. I think you can do comedy without losing the emotional impact, or making the characters into jokes."

— Jason Aaron, Co-Creator of Southern Bastards

This insight suggests that the TV series could blend dark humor with its grim subject matter, offering a complex and nuanced viewing experience that goes beyond typical crime thrillers. The comic's faithfulness to its source material is a strong indicator that fans will appreciate the adaptation, especially with Aaron and Latour on board as executive producers.

Why Hulu's 'Southern Bastards' Could Be Your Next Must-Watch Drama

Hulu has been expanding its slate of original dramas, and Southern Bastards looks like a promising contender to capture the attention of audiences who appreciate character-driven crime stories. With Nia DaCosta's distinctive directorial style and Bill Dubuque's proven track record for crafting intricate narratives, the pilot has all the ingredients for success.

DaCosta's recent work, including directing the upcoming 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple and her acclaimed Hedda, demonstrates her versatility and ability to tackle different genres with confidence. Dubuque’s experience with Ozark means he understands how to build a world where secrets are currency and danger lurks in every shadow. Combined with Olmstead’s steady hand as showrunner, this team seems perfectly poised to deliver a TV series that's both thrilling and thought-provoking.

The premise itself – a military vet returning to a corrupt hometown – offers a rich tapestry for storytelling, full of potential for intense confrontations and moral dilemmas. As Hulu continues to seek out high-quality, distinctive content, Southern Bastards could be a major win, potentially offering a gritty, acclaimed crime series that could stand alongside some of the best in the genre.

While there's no official release date for the pilot or a potential series order yet, the news of Hulu moving forward with such an impressive team is incredibly exciting. Keep an eye out for more updates on this promising adaptation; Craw County might just be your next favorite TV destination.

Frequently Asked Questions About the 'Southern Bastards' TV Pilot

When Will the 'Southern Bastards' Pilot Episode Be Released?

As of now, Hulu has only ordered a pilot episode, and a release date has not been announced. Production timelines can vary, so stay tuned for updates on when you might be able to watch it!

Who Are the Main Characters in the 'Southern Bastards' Story?

The story primarily revolves around a tenacious military veteran, likely Roberta Tubb (from the original comics), who returns to her hometown. She clashes with Euless Boss, a high school football coach who secretly runs a powerful criminal empire in Craw County.

What Is the 'Southern Bastards' Comic Book Series About?

The Image Comics series, created by Jason Aaron and Jason Latour, tells the gritty tale of Craw County, Alabama – a town obsessed with high school football, BBQ, and steeped in organized crime. It explores themes of family, corruption, and vengeance through its compelling characters.

What Kind of Show Can We Expect 'Southern Bastards' to Be?

Given the source material and the creative team (featuring talent from Ozark, Candyman, and Chicago P.D.), expect a dark, atmospheric, and character-driven crime drama. It will likely blend suspense, violence, and possibly some dark humor, all set against a distinctly Southern backdrop.

Sources:

Information synthesized from multiple news outlets including CBR, Deadline, ScreenRant, Bleeding Cool, and Laughing Place.