Fargo season 5 likely to be the last, says showrunner Noah Hawley

Kirsten Dunst and Jesse Plemmons in Fargo
(Image credit: FX)

Fargo showrunner Noah Hawley has revealed that season 5 is likely to be the endpoint for the darkly comedic crime drama. 

When asked if season 5 was in the works during an interview with Vanity Fair, Hawley replied: "Yeah, I think so. 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."

Based on the 1996 movie of the same name directed by the Coen brothers, the show first aired in 2014. Each season of the anthology series has had a different cast and storyline, as well as taking place in a different setting and era. Most recently, 2020's season 4 was set in '50s Kansas City and followed a gang war for control of the city. It starred Chris Rock, Jessie Buckley, Jason Schwartzman, and Ben Whishaw. 

Previous seasons have taken place in the '00s, present-day, and the '70s, and starred Billy Bob Thornton, Martin Freeman, Kirsten Dunst, Jesse Plemons, Ewan McGregor, and Mary Elizabeth Winstead.

Fargo season 5 may not be on the cards for a while, though, as Hawley is currently busy with other projects. In December 2020, it was announced that he would be helming a TV show based on Alien, the 1979 movie starring Sigourney Weaver and directed by Ridley Weaver, for FX. Set on Earth, Hawley revealed in the same Vanity Fair interview that the series will not feature Weaver's character Ripley, as he "doesn't want to mess with" her story. 

Hawley was also the showrunner of Legion, a series set in the same universe as The X-Men, which starred Dan Stevens, Aubrey Plaza, and Jemaine Clement and aired for three seasons between 2017 and 2019. He directed the 2019 sci-fi movie Lucy in the Sky, starring Natalie Portman and Jon Hamm, although the film was not successful at the box office. 

While we wait for Fargo season 5 to – eventually – arrive on our screens, fill out your watch list with our picks of the best TV shows of 2020.

Entertainment Writer

I’m an Entertainment Writer here at 12DOVE, covering everything film and TV-related across the Total Film and SFX sections. I help bring you all the latest news and also the occasional feature too. I’ve previously written for publications like HuffPost and i-D after getting my NCTJ Diploma in Multimedia Journalism. 

Read more
Stranger Things season 4, volume 2 finale
Stranger Things season 5 was a "Lord of the Rings-style" epic to film according to star: "I feel like it couldn’t have ended better"
Mike, Eleven and Will in Stranger Things season 4 (2022)
Stranger Things season 5: Everything we know so far about the Netflix show's final chapter
Eleven holding out her hand in Stranger Things
Stranger Things season 5 releasing in 2025 might not be a certainty as its creators admit that target is "quite the push"
The Boys season 5: Karl Urban as William "Billy" Butcher punching an enemy during The Boys season 4.
The Boys season 5 release date speculation, cast, plot, and more news
You season 5
You season 5: Everything we know so far about the final season of the hit Netflix show
Stranger Things season 5 set photo
Stranger Things creators Duffer Brothers reveal they filmed over 650 hours of footage for the final season of the Netflix hit, as behind-the-scenes teaser is shown behind closed doors
Latest in Drama Shows
Catherine Sarah Hook and Zac Burgess in Cruel Intentions
A TV remake of a '90s cult classic movie has been canceled by Prime Video after only one season
A group of Men wearing armour during the TV show, Vikings.
Vikings creator is heading back to his Norse roots with this new historical drama on Amazon
Sam Worthington
Avatar star to lead Harlan Coben’s next gut-wrenching drama
Rick and Michonne in The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live
The Walking Dead boss looks to squash hopes of The Ones Who Live season 2 – though that doesn't mean we won't ever see Rick and Michonne again
Rick Hoffman in Suits
Suits star coming back for one-off appearance in LA spin-off, but there could be more if season 2 happens
Neil Patrick Harris in Doctor Who's 60th anniversary specials
Dexter fans praise "insane" casting for new series' second season as Doctor Who's Neil Patrick Harris joins Peter Dinklage, Uma Thurman and more
Latest in News
Jack Quaid in Novocaine
The Boys star Jack Quaid's commitment to the bit is unmatched as his latest marketing stunt for upcoming action movie Novocaine goes viral
Daredevil: Born Again
Daredevil: Born Again had Disney Plus' biggest premiere of 2025, but its viewership is lower than Agatha All Along and The Acolyte
Beyond the Ice Palace 2
After 37 years, this Commodore 64 classic returns with a new Metroidvania sequel that gives serious old-school Castlevania vibes
The House of the Dead first look 'Test Subjects'
Resident Evil director offers update on his horror movie adaptation of Until Dawn-sounding video game from over 20 years ago: "It's going to be very, very scary"
True Detective
Matthew McConaughey still thinks his own season of True Detective is the best one: "It was one of the great events in TV"
Diego Luna in Andor season 2
Andor season 2 showrunner Tony Gilroy calls Cassian “Star Wars Jesus” ahead of the show’s return on Disney Plus