Kevin Bacon is taking the lead in Southern Bastards, a new drama pilot ordered by Hulu that digs deep into the underbelly of small-town America. Directed and executive produced by Reinaldo Marcus Green, the series reimagines the award-winning graphic novel by Jason Aaron and Jason Latour as a gritty Southern crime story built around loyalty, bloodlines, and corruption.
Deadline reports that the series centers on a military veteran who returns to Craw County, Alabama, to find her father. Instead, she uncovers a ruthless criminal network hidden behind Friday night football glory. Bacon plays Earl, the son of the late Sheriff Bert, once the feared lawman of Craw County. Earl is a working-class veteran trying to reconnect with his estranged daughter while confronting the rot at the town’s core. His character is described as tough but decent, unwilling to ignore the violence and control that has gripped his hometown.
Southern Bastards comes from Onyx Collective, POV Entertainment, and Proximity Media, working with Fifth Season. Bill Dubuque of Ozark fame wrote the teleplay from a story he shares credit on with director Nia DaCosta. Dubuque also serves as executive producer alongside Matt Olmstead, who will act as showrunner. Jason Aaron, Jason Latour, and Green join the producer lineup with Proximity co-founders Ryan Coogler, Sev Ohanian, and Zinzi Coogler. Layne Eskridge, Simone Harris, and Kate Barry round out the producing team.
The announcement comes at a high point for Bacon. He just premiered Family Movie at SXSW, a horror comedy he directed and starred in alongside wife Kyra Sedgwick and their children, Sosie and Travis Bacon. His involvement in Southern Bastards marks another return to television for the veteran star whose mix of gravitas and self-awareness fits the tone of the series.
Green, who earned acclaim for King Richard and more recently helmed Bob Marley: One Love, continues to balance prestige drama with commercial reach. That film grossed more than $180 million worldwide. His next project, The Punisher: One Last Kill, debuts May 12 on Disney+. His growing presence across major studios highlights Hollywood’s push for directors who can deliver both message and mass appeal—two qualities Southern Bastards seems designed to test.
With its mix of rural grit, moral decay, and sharp talent in front of and behind the camera, Hulu’s upcoming pilot could strike a chord with viewers looking for something that feels both real and raw. If picked up to series, Southern Bastards might prove that some corners of America’s heartland are better suited for survival stories than redemption tales.
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English (US) · 