The team behind “Justified” is coming together to develop an FX series based on Elmore Leonard’s novel “City Primeval: High Noon in Detroit”, with Timothy Olyphant potentially returning as Raylan Givens, Variety learned exclusively.
“Justfied” creator Graham Yost will serve as executive producer, with “Justfied” writers and executive producers Michael Dinner and Dave Andron on board to co-write, executive produce and serve as co-showrunners. Dinner will also drive. Chris Provenzano, Sarah Timberman and Carl Beverly of Timberman-Beverly, VJ Boyd and Taylor Elmore will return as executive producers. Peter Leonard, from Elmore Leonard Estate, will be the executive producer in association with MGM. Walter Mosely will act as a consulting producer, as will Ingrid Escajeda. Eisa Davis will produce. Sony Pictures Television will serve as the studio, as they did in “Justified”.
According to sources, as the project is in its early stages, nothing is defined yet, meaning that Olyphant could star in the series or appear in a minor role, but no deal has been made yet.
“Justified” was based on Leonard’s character, Raylan Givens, who appeared in several novels and the short story “Fire in the Hole”. Givens was a US deputy marshal who was transferred to his native Kentucky after a controversial shootout. “City Primeval: High Noon in Detroit” follows an assassin named Clement Mansell, known as the “Oklahoma Wild Man”, and dedicated Detroit homicide detective Raymond Cruz, who swears to defeat him.
“Justified” finally aired six seasons and 78 episodes on FX 2010-2015. The show was a critical success from the start, earning eight Emmy nominations in its six seasons, including one for Olyphant for best actor in a drama in 2011. Actress Margo Martindale took home an Emmy for best guest actress in a drama in 2011, while Jeremy Davies won one of the best guest stars in 2012. The show also won a Peabody award in 2011.
If Olyphant repeats the role of Givens, it would mark the second time that he has returned to the character of a lawman in recent years. In 2019, HBO released a two-hour movie “Deadwood”, with Olyphant reprising the role of Seth Bullock. He also appeared as the character Cobb Vanth in Disney Plus’ “The Mandalorian”, known as “The Marshall”.
Olyphant is represented by UTA. Yost is represented by CAA and Morris Yorn. Dinner is represented by CAA, Anonymous Content and Hansen Jacobson. Andron is represented by CAA, Lit Entertainment Group and Hansen Jacobson. Provenzano is represented by Anonymous and Ziffren Brittenham. Boyd is represented by WME, Grandview and Marks Law Group. Timberman and Beverly are represented by the Lenore Entertainment Group. Elmore is represented by UTA and Hansen Jacobson. Peter Leonard and Elmore Leonard Estate are represented by Myman Greenspan.