FX, Timothy Olyphant saddle up for 'Lawman'

By Rick Porter

July 28, 2009 2:20 PM ET

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FX will ride into 2010 with a new series called "Lawman," starring Timothy Olyphant as a U.S. marshal who works in a distinctly old-school manner.

The show, based on an Elmore Leonard story, will premiere in the spring. Graham Yost ("Boomtown," "The Pacific") created the show; Leonard will be an executive producer.

"FX has been fortunate to employ some of the finest writers working in television, and we're lucky to add an outstanding talent like Graham Yost to that growing list," FX president and general manager John Landgraf says. "Graham began with a memorable character from one of America's foremost crime novelists, Elmore Leonard, and we scored the hat trick signing Tim Olyphant."

Olyphant will play U.S. Marshal Raylan Givens, who after clashing with his bosses is reassigned to the district that includes the rural Kentucky town where he grew up. FX describes the character, who was featured in Leonard's story "Fire in the Hole," as "a tough, soft-spoken gentleman who finds his quarry fascinating, but never gives an inch."

Olyphant is familiar with the strong-silent cop type, having played Sheriff Seth Bullock on HBO's "Deadwood" for three seasons. He's coming off another FX series, "Damages," in which he played the mysterious and creepy Wes Krulik in season two.

"Lawman" also stars Nick Searcy ("The Ugly Truth") as Raylan's boss and Erica Tazel and Jacob Pitts as deputy marshals. "The Shield's" Walton Goggins and "Dirty Sexy Money's" Natalie Zea will have guest roles.

The show is the second one FX has picked up in the past few weeks. It also ordered an animated spy comedy called "Archer" that will air in the fall.

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