'Fargo' will return for a third season

Patrick Wilson and Ted Danson
Patrick Wilson, right, stars in FX's "Fargo" as a young Lou Solverson and Ted Danson plays his partner (and father-in-law) Hank Larsson.
Courtesy of FX

Here we Far-go again!

FX announced today that the network has renewed the television show "Fargo" for a third season.

The show is a small-screen adaptation of Joel and Ethan Coen's 1996 film "Fargo" — though it's more of a thematic adaptation than a literal one. None of the original characters appear, but there's plenty of murder, mayhem and Minnesota nice.

The show, which was created by Noah Hawley, is currently in its second season. The star-studded cast, featuring Kirsten Dunst, Ted Danson, Patrick Wilson and Nick Offerman, is tangled up in a mob plot that takes place in Luverne, Minn., and Fargo, N.D., in 1979.

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"Year two of 'Fargo' is an extraordinary achievement and, given Noah Hawley's masterful storytelling, we can't wait to see where the third, all-new version of 'Fargo' takes us," said Eric Schrier, president of original programming for FX Networks and FX Productions.

The first season of "Fargo" pin-balled between Bemidji, Minn., and Duluth. The cast included Billy Bob Thornton, Martin Freeman, Colin Hanks and Allison Tolman. It earned 18 Emmy nominations and three wins.

The second season has earned critical praise so far, with NPR's Eric Deggans calling it "a quirky, creative reinvention that improves on an already stellar show."

Midwesterners watching at home may recognize the accents, but not many of the landmarks. "Fargo" is filmed in Canada.

What's next?

"Fargo" is part of a growing trend of anthology TV series, in which each season features a different cast and story line, rather a continuous narrative.

The first two seasons of "Fargo" are connected by only a thread, and they're set 36 years apart.

This means the third season of "Fargo" could take viewers anywhere — or any time.

Get more behind-the-scenes details on this season of "Fargo" from the Aw Jeez podcast.