Starring Christina Hendricks (Mad Men, The Neon Demon), James Purefoy (The Following, High-Rise), and Michael K. Williams (Boardwalk Empire, Inherent Vice), the series is brought to life by Jim Mickle and his writing partner/actor Nick Damici (both also Cold in July, Stake Land, We Are What We Are).
Starting off adapting Lansdale's book Savage Season, the story follows best friends Hap Collins (Purefoy), a white working-class guy who was jailed for dodging the Vietnam draft, and Leonard Pine, an African-American war veteran. Hap's ex-wife Trudy (Hendricks) re-enters the picture with a deal to score lots of "easy money." If you know Lansdale's books, you'll know that nothing ever comes easy for his characters and they always find themselves in bad --- and sometimes hilarious --- situations.
Of the series, Lansdale told me this: "After 25 years, Hap and Leonard are finding new outlets in graphic novels and a cool TV series from Sundance. Loving it. Watch for new books in the series."
By looks of the teaser, we're in for a pretty good time. If your idea of fun (like mine) includes people on fire, a mannequin with a Reagan mask being pierced with an arrow, and escaping from alligators, Hap and Leonard is for you. Check out the teaser below. What do you think?
[Disclosure: Lansdale is a friend of the associate editor.]