The Australian television rights to the highly anticipated television adaptation of the film Fargo have been secured by SBS.
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The multicultural public broadcaster will launch the series in May, screening it within weeks of the show's US debut.
The updated Fargo has been produced by the creative collaboration behind the film, producers Joel and Ethan Coen.
It stars Billy Bob Thornton, Martin Freeman, Colin Hanks and Breaking Bad's Bob Odenkirk.
The original film was released in 1996, and was a black comedy thriller about a series of murders in a small town. It starred Frances McDormand, William H. Macy and Steve Buscemi.
A pilot for television was filmed the following year, with a storyline that more closely mirrored the film. It starred Edie Falco and was directed by Kathy Bates but did not have the involvement of the Coen brothers.
The US cable network FX announced its reboot in 2012, as a 10-episode "limited series".
This new version, produced by FX Productions and MGM Television, has been adapted by novelist/writer Noah Hawley and follows a new "true" crime case.
SBS has built a suite of high-quality scripted drama, notably the historical drama Vikings, the US drama Masters of Sex, the critically acclaimed UK drama Skins, the Danish political drama Borgen and the Danish/Swedish crime drama The Bridge.
"The legendary Coen brothers are synonymous with cutting edge drama, and they've produced a series full of their trademark black humour and unexpected plot twists," SBS's director of television Tony Iffland said.
"We've already cemented our reputation for bringing Australian audiences the best in high quality, bold international drama series with programs like Borgen and The Killing," Iffland said.
"Fargo is the next step in building our reputation for offering the world's best scripted English language dramas."
