Hulu orders ‘Southern Bastards’ pilot from ‘Ozark’ creator

Hulu’s Onyx Collective has ordered a pilot for “Southern Bastards,” a television adaptation of the award-winning Image Comics series created by Jason Aaron and Jason Latour, announced October 30, 2025deadline.
The crime drama follows a tenacious military veteran searching for her estranged father in Craw County, Alabama, where she discovers a dangerous network of organized crime run by the most successful high school football coach in the Southdeadline.
Bill Dubuque, co-creator of Netflix’s Emmy-winning series “Ozark,” wrote the teleplay and serves as executive producer, while Nia DaCosta, director of “The Marvels” and “Candyman,” will direct the pilotdeadline.
Matt Olmstead, co-creator of “Chicago P.D.” and “Chicago Med,” will serve as showrunner and executive producer for the project produced by Onyx Collective, POV Entertainment, and Proximity Mediadeadline.
The original comic series won the 2015 Harvey Award for Best New Series and the 2016 Eisner Award for Best Continuing Series but came to a halt in 2020 following misconduct allegations against co-creator Jason Latourvariety.

Hulu Orders ‘Southern Bastards’ Pilot Based on Acclaimed Comic Series

Hulu’s Onyx Collective has ordered a pilot for “Southern Bastards,” a television adaptation of the award-winning Image Comics series created by Jason Aaron and Jason Latour. The gritty crime drama, announced October 30, 2025, follows a tenacious military veteran searching for her estranged father in the fictional Craw County, Alabama, where she discovers “a murderous hornet’s nest of organized crime run by the winningest high school football coach in the South”.deadline

The project brings together an impressive creative team led by Bill Dubuque, co-creator of the critically acclaimed Netflix series “Ozark,” who wrote the teleplay and serves as executive producer. Nia DaCosta, director of Marvel’s “The Marvels” and Jordan Peele’s “Candyman” reboot, will direct the pilot and executive produce through her The Once and Future, Inc. production banner. Matt Olmstead, co-creator of NBC’s “Chicago P.D.” and “Chicago Med,” will serve as showrunner and executive producer.yahoo

Award-Winning Source Material Faces Challenges

“Southern Bastards” debuted in 2014 as a southern-fried crime comic that quickly garnered critical acclaim, winning the 2015 Harvey Award for Best New Series and the 2016 Eisner Award for Best Continuing Series. Set in a fictional Alabama town where residents are passionate about BBQ, high school football, and organized crime, the original series centered on Earl Tubb, a former sheriff’s son who returns home after 40 years to confront Coach Boss, a ruthless crime lord who doubles as the local high school football coach.mycomicshop

However, the comic series came to an abrupt halt in 2020 following multiple allegations of misconduct against co-creator and artist Jason Latour. The controversy led to the series’ indefinite hiatus after 21 issues, leaving the acclaimed story without a conclusion. Despite this setback, both Aaron and Latour remain attached as executive producers on the television adaptation.wikipedia

High-Profile Production Team

The pilot is being produced by Onyx Collective, POV Entertainment, and Proximity Media, in association with Fifth Season, where Dubuque maintains an overall deal. Additional executive producers include Layne Eskridge for POV Entertainment and Gabrielle Nadig.deadline

This marks a banner year for DaCosta, who recently wrote, directed, and produced “Hedda” starring Tessa Thompson, which debuted theatrically on October 22. She is also set to direct “28 Years Later: The Bone Temple,” scheduled for theatrical release in January 2026. Dubuque continues his successful collaboration with crime dramas following “Ozark’s” four-season run and recent work as executive producer on Peacock’s crime thriller “M.I.A.”.yahoo