Hulu‘s Onyx Collective is heading to the Deep South, and they’ve packed some serious star power. Kevin Bacon has officially been cast in a lead role for the pilot of “Southern Bastards,” an adaptation of the gritty, critically acclaimed graphic novel series.
But the shakeups don’t stop at the cast. Reinaldo Marcus Green (King Richard, The Punisher: One Last Kill) has stepped into the director’s chair, taking over for Nia DaCosta to executive produce and helm the pilot.
Welcome to Craw County (Bring a Flak Jacket)
The series follows a tenacious military veteran who returns to her roots in Craw County, Alabama. She’s looking for her estranged father, but instead, she stumbles into a “murderous hornet’s nest.”
In this town, the law isn’t found in a courthouse; it’s on the 50-yard line. The winningest high school football coach runs the local organized crime ring in the South. This proves that “Friday Night Lights” can get very dark, very quickly.
The Role: Six Degrees of Separation (from the Law)
Bacon will star as Earl, a character who is as “blue-collar” as they come. He’s the son of the legendary Sheriff Bert, a man who ruled the county with an iron fist. Earl, as a humble Army veteran, is tough. However, he’s eager to mend fences and reconnect with his daughter. Even if it means kicking that aforementioned hornet’s nest until it explodes.
Bacon’s Small Screen Streak
While the world still remembers him for dancing in Footloose or dodging graboids in Tremors, Bacon has quietly become a titan of prestige TV. Between Kevin Bacon‘s recent turns in Netflix’s “Sirens” and Amazon’s “The Bondsman,” he’s proven he has the grit for the “Southern Noir” aesthetic. Add a Golden Globe-nominated performance in I Love Dick, and it’s clear Earl is in capable hands.
Why It Matters
“Southern Bastards“ isn’t just a crime show; it’s an exploration of the South’s obsession with legacy, football, and the violent cycles of the past. With Reinaldo Marcus Green’s knack for character-driven tension and Bacon’s seasoned intensity, Hulu might have a touchdown on its hands.
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