SundanceTV announced today the renewal of the network’s original scripted series “Hap and Leonard.” The darkly comic swamp noir story follows two lifelong best friends, Hap Collins (James Purefoy), an East Texas white boy with a weakness for Southern women, and Leonard Pine (Michael Kenneth Williams), a gay, black Vietnam vet with a hot temper. Based on the popular books by Joe R. Lansdale, the series was developed by Jim Mickle and Nick Damici, with the first season following the first Hap and Leonard novel, Savage Season. The second season will take inspiration from Mucho Mojo, the second installment of the book series, and will return for six episodes in 2017. John Wirth (“Hell on Wheels,” “Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles”) will join as showrunner and executive producer for Season 2, and Jim Mickle, Nick Damici, Jeremy Platt, Linda Moran, and Nick Shumaker return as executive producers.
“We’re thrilled to be bringing ‘Hap and Leonard’ back for another season with these completely unique characters,” said Joel Stillerman, president of original programming and development for AMC and SundanceTV. “James, Michael and the creative and production team did a superb job bringing Joe Lansdale’s characters to life in Season 1, and Sundance viewers responded accordingly. We can’t wait to see what the boys get up to in Season 2.”
“Hap and Leonard” was touted as “a terrifically offbeat caper” by TV Guide and “entrancing” by Vulture. The cast for season one also included Christina Hendricks (“Mad Men”), Jimmi Simpson (“House of Cards”), Bill Sage (American Psycho), Pollyanna McIntosh, Neil Sandilands and Jeff Pope. “Hap and Leonard” is produced by AMC Studios and hails from executive producers John Wirth, Jim Mickle, Nick Damici, Jeremy Platt, Linda Moran, and Nick Shumaker, along with co-executive producers Joe R. Lansdale and Lowell Northrop.