The Second Season of FX’s Fargo Will Travel Back in Time

Yesterday we learned that not only would Fargo be returning for a second season on FX, but also that no members of the Season 1 cast (even those lucky few who survived the 10-episode bloodbath) would be returning for Season 2. If it’s any consolation to fans of the excellent first season, however, at least one character in the upcoming season — which may not air until the fall of 2015 — will be somewhat familiar.

Season 2 of Fargo will take place in 1979, predominantly in Sioux Falls, Luvurne and Fargo, and focus on a young Lou Solverson (Molly’s dad), who was a retired state police officer played by Keith Carradine in Season 1. Seeing as Solverson will be only 33 during the events of Season 2, Carradine won’t be back to reprise the role (and neither will Allison Tolman as his daughter). No announcement has been made as to who might take that lead role, though it hasn’t stopped some from throwing out one name as a possibility.

Despite the all-new setting and cast for Season 2, Fargo‘s new story shouldn’t be entirely unfamiliar for viewers of Season 1. Carradine’s character made reference to one of his most harrowing cases taking place in Sioux Falls, so it’s a good bet what went down with all those bodies “stacked so high, you could’ve climbed to the second floor.”

Showrunner Noah Hawley says that the show will continue to draw inspiration from Coen Brothers films, with the upcoming season taking cues from Fargo, Miller’s Crossing and The Man Who Wasn’t There.

Though a complete overhaul of cast, setting and time period might seem a bold approach for a show with just 10 episodes under its belt, there’s little reason to believe that Hawley won’t be able to pull it off. Fargo was arguably the best new show of 2014, and as long as Hawley remains at the helm, its future appears bright.