CAN. NOT. WAIT! What a cast, and what a conversion. From the press release:

SBS brings highly anticipated new series Fargo to Australian screens
Australian premiere – 9.30pm, Thursday 1 May on SBS ONE

SBS builds on its reputation for offering the world’s best dramas by bringing the next big US television series, Fargo, to Australian screens in May – a new 10-part series inspired by the classic 90s film of the same name.

With the original film’s masterminds Joel and Ethan Coen as Executive Producers, the series boasts a formidable cast led by the inimitable Billy Bob Thornton (Sling Blade, Armageddon), as well as Hollywood heavyweights Martin Freeman (The Hobbit, The Office), Colin Hanks (Mad Men, King Kong), Bob Odenkirk (Breaking Bad) and more.

“I’m very excited that SBS will be the home of the Fargo series in Australia”, SBS Director of Television Tony Iffland says.

“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. A thrilling 10-part series, Fargo is the next step in building our reputation for offering the world’s best scripted English language dramas, following on from success stories such as Vikings and Masters of Sex.”

Fargo, adapted by novelist/writer Noah Hawley, follows an all-new “true” crime case with new characters, all entrenched in the trademark humour, murder and “Minnesota nice” that made the Academy Award-winning film an enduring classic.

Oscar winner Thornton stars as Lorne Malvo, a rootless, manipulative man who meets and forever changes the life of small town insurance salesman Lester Nygaard, played by BAFTA Award winner Martin Freeman.

Colin Hanks plays Duluth Police Deputy Gus Grimly, a single dad who must choose between his own personal safety and his duty as a policeman when he comes face-to-face with a killer. Allison Tolman stars as Molly Solverson, an ambitious Bemidji deputy and Emmy winner Bob Odenkirk plays the bungling deputy Bill Oswalt.

Rounding out the killer cast is Golden Globe and Emmy-nominated Oliver Platt as Stavros Milos, Screen Actors Guild Award winner Kate Walsh as Gina Hess, Glenn Howerton (It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia) as Don Chumph, and Adam Goldberg as Mr. Numbers, as well as many more surprise appearances.

“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”, Iffland says. “Driven by quirky dialogue and star performances from heavyweights including Thornton, Freeman and Odenkirk, we are immensely proud to bring the next big thing in US drama series to Australian screens.”

Aw jeez, someone’s up to no good in Fargo! Find out who when this thrilling, chilling, blackly hilarious new series premieres at 9.30pm, Thursday 1 May on SBS ONE.

A 10-episode series, Fargo is produced by FX Productions and MGM Television.