'Fargo' Season 5: Release Date, News, Cast, and More

Table of Contents

After a long wait, the widely successful FX series Fargo is back for Season 5 this year. Created by Noah Hawley, the show is loosely based on the 1996 movie of the same name.

So, as fans get excited for the coming season, here’s what we know so far about the upcoming fifth season.

Fargo Renewed for Season 5

After a successful fourth season, it was clear that fans wanted more from Noah Hawley’s midwestern universe. In February 2022, FX Entertainment President Erik Schrier announced Fargo was renewed for Season 5.

Production for the fifth season began several months after its renewal announcement. Filming for Fargo Season 5 took place in Calgary, Alberta, in October 2022. Principal photography continued in various locations in Calgary.

There is no official confirmation on how many episodes Fargo Season 5 will have. In comparison, the show’s first three seasons had 10 episodes each. The fourth season had 11 episodes. It’s likely we’ll also get around 10 episodes for Season 5.

Creator of Fargo - Noah Hawley — Creator of ‘Fargo’ – Noah Hawley / Photo Credit: Ovidiu Hrubaru

Hawley is also one of the show’s executive producers. Joel and Ethan Coen, who directed the 1996 film also serve as the executive producers. In the first four seasons, Warren Littlefield, Adam Bernstein, Geyer Kosinski, John Cameron, and Leslie Cowan were the show’s executive producers. Kim Todd, Chad Oakes, Michael Frislev, and Erik Holmberg served as producers.

Cinematographer Dana Gonzales and composer Jeff Russo are also involved with the show. Gonzales and Russo previously worked with Hawley on the superhero series Legion.

Hawley previously teased that the upcoming season of the anthology series may be the last. The Fargo showrunner revealed at the time that he had been thinking about the show’s ending.

“Yeah, I think so,” said Hawley about the possibility of making an ending for the show. “I don’t have it yet. I have pieces that will have to survive. They’re not connected. I think it would be good to create an ending, and deliberately come to something, knowing it’s the last one, and see how one might wrap up this anthology.”

David Rysdahl as Wayne Lyon / Photo Credit: FX

Is Fargo Season 4 The Weakest?

Compared to the first three seasons, season four of Fargo received mixed reception. According to Screenrant, the fourth season was a departure from the similarly themed seasons of the show. Thus, Season 4 received lower reviews from viewers, with a 55 percent score on the audience aggregate Rotten Tomatoes. The departure didn’t prove to be as successful, as evidenced by its score.

One such instance is the location. While the show mostly took place in North Dakota and Minnesota, season four was set in Kansas City. Even though the season further brought to light issues like racism and wealth inequality, the season was said to be too unlike the show that fans know and love. The time period in the previous season also marked a major shift, as the show’s earlier seasons didn’t go earlier than 1979 and after 2000.

With that in mind, fans are expecting that Season 5 will be better than the last.

Jennifer Jason Leigh as Lorraine Lyon / Photo Credit: FX

What to Expect for Fargo Season 5

In the upcoming season, fans will be introduced to two new families: The Lyons and the Tillmans. The fallout of Dot’s legal troubles sends her back to the environment she thought she left behind. However, North Dakota Sheriff Roy Tillman hasn’t forgotten, spending years hunting down Dot alongside his son Gator and a drifter named Ole Munch. Dot is forced to protect herself and her family from her past.

However, Dot’s husband, Wayne, keeps asking his mother, Lorraine, for help. Lorraine gets her adviser, Danish, to help Dot out. But their behavior catches the attention of Minnesota Police Deputy Indira Olmstead and North Dakota Deputy Witt Farr. We can expect a wild season ahead.

Compared to season four, the upcoming installment would mark its most modern yet, taking place in Minnesota and North Dakota in 2019.

The official synopsis for Fargo Season 5 reads:

“Fargo has traveled through decades, cities, and families, and the fifth installment will be no different: Set in 2019, when is a kidnapping, not a kidnapping, and what if your wife isn’t yours?”

Jon Hamm in Fargo Season 5 — Jon Hamm in ‘Fargo’ Season 5 / Photo Credit: FX

Season 5 Cast

As Fargo is an anthology series, expect a new slate of characters for the upcoming season.

Juno Temple plays Dorothy “Dot” Lyon in Fargo Season 5 alongside David Rysdahl as Dot’s husband Wayne Lyon. Jennifer Jason Leigh plays Dot’s mother-in-law Lorraine Lyon, and Dave Foley plays Danish Graves, Lorraine’s right-hand man.

Other stars to expect in Fargo Season 5: Jon Hamm as North Dakota Sheriff Roy Tillman, Joe Keery as Roy’s son Gator Tillman, Lomorne Morris as North Dakota Deputy Witt Farr, and Richa Moorjani as Minnesota Police Deputy Indira Olmstead. Sam Spruell joins the cast as Ole Munch along with Jessica Pohly as Agent Meyer, and Nick Gomez as Agent Joaquin.

Juno Temple in Fargo Season 5 — Juno Temple in ‘Fargo’ Season 5 / Photo Credit: FX

Fargo Season 5 is also Hamm’s first leading role in a series since Mad Men.

Speaking with WWD ahead of the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes, Joe Keery talked about his character Gator, and his relationship with his father, Roy.

“It was clear that he’s a pretty deeply conflicted character. Right away. And at the core, there are major daddy issues,” said Keery, who bonded with Hamm over hockey while filming. “We had a lot of downtime, we watched a bunch of football, we went to dinner and stuff. It was just a real, real pleasure to be around him.”

The Stranger Things star said Hamm, “Sam Spruell, and I had a lot of scenes together, and to have those two guys, who between them have years and years of experience, that’s the best part about this whole job. Meeting the other actors, meeting people, and talking and hearing their story and what their experience has been. I love that. I feel like I can learn so much from other people. So I just tried to keep my eyes peeled and learn from them.”