Noah Hawley Discusses TV Industry Challenges and Competition at Canneseries

Noah Hawley, known for creating TV series such as “Fargo,” “Legion,” and “Alien: Earth,” addressed the state of the television industry during an appearance at Canneseries. He stated that the industry is transitioning between old and new models, and that masterpieces continue to emerge in every generation.

Hawley noted that becoming optimistic about the industry's future has been a process. Hawley highlighted the impact of technology companies on Hollywood, stating that everyone in the industry has been affected. He described the last few years as challenging and identified YouTube as the biggest competition, as it spends no money on content production.

Hawley, who began his career as a novelist and continues to write books, said that television is the fastest way to engage with culture.

mentioned being called “the franchise whisperer,” noting its value in an industry focused on franchises and existing intellectual properties, which audiences watch more reliably. He also has a reputation for original storytelling. In discussing “Legion,” based on the X-Men universe, Hawley referenced an essay by Freud titled “The Uncanny,” which deals with familiar things acting in unfamiliar ways.

He explained that “Legion” explores a character who is Professor X's son and mentally ill, unsure if his powers are real. Dan Stevens played the lead role and experienced food poisoning during filming of the pilot. Hawley joked about Stevens' dedication, noting he had to dance, vomit, and dance again.

said he does not rewatch original films before adapting them, instead focusing on remembered emotions. For “Alien,” he recalled the emotion of discovery in the creature's lifecycle, from egg to chestburster, and how the second film shifts from surprise to suspense.

A second season of “Alien: Earth” is in development. Regarding “Fargo,” which has had five seasons, Hawley described it as a battle between decency and cynicism, not good and evil. ” Hawley stated that in his country, decency is not winning and cynicism is prevailing.

In Season 5 of “Fargo,” Hawley noted that all characters were Republicans, representing different versions. He described earlier seasons' themes: the second about the death of family businesses and rise of corporate America, the third about deconstructing “this is a true story” in a world of alternative facts, and the latest about the need for a justice system.

Hawley referenced a mindset in shows like “Yellowstone” or “1883,” where individuals believe they inherently know right from wrong. He mentioned scenes where Jon Hamm's character lists ridiculous laws, but emphasized that this does not make the law itself ridiculous.

Hawley stated that in his interpretations of franchises like “Fargo” and “Alien,” women carry the stories, viewing these franchises as female in nature.

emphasized authenticity as his first mission when interpreting known brands, allowing him to then add original elements. He does not consider this fan service but rather ensuring it feels right. On artificial intelligence, Hawley said he has not used it yet but has had conversations about it.

He noted that producing a season of “Alien” costs between $150 million and $170 million, and corporations seek ways to reduce expenses. Hawley mentioned writing a novel with expensive elements like a plane crash and underwater sequences, questioning if using AI for those could still result in a worthwhile film.

He cited the potential to complete Kubrick’s “Napoleon” using AI and stated that such use is inevitable.