Entertainment Weekly reports that SundanceTV’s Hap and Leonard, adapted from a series of Joe R. Lansdale, has been renewed for a third season. It is expected to air in 2018.
Starring HBO alumni James Purefoy (Rome) and Michael K. Williams (The Wire) as Hap Collins and Leonard Pine respectively, the series employs aspects of mystery and drama while adding a healthy dose of black comedy. The polarization of the two characters leads to plenty of insane situations, though the central theme always remains their steadfast friendship. And Williams setting things on fire. That also plays a role.
Season 3 will be based on the third novel of the series, The Two-Bear Mambo, and focus on the duo’s search for Hap’s ex. There are nine books total in the series, so there is still plenty of source material to focus on for developers Nick Damici and Jim Mickle.
In an official statement, Mickle said “We’re beyond psyched to bring the boys back for a third helping of mayhem… It’s a show that doesn’t fold up neatly into one defined box and that’s what makes it special, so thanks to SundanceTV for believing in it and championing it from day one. We also owe a big thank you to the fans for the phenomenal response so far.”
Hap and Leonard are complete opposites in just about every way, with one being an unlucky-in-love draft dodging pacifist and the other a gay Vietnam vet with deep anger issues. Despite those differences, however, the two remain very close friends as they assist one another in investigations and dig deeper into themselves through their differences. Wright’s performance is particularly entertaining due to his sometimes explosive temper, though Purefoy more than manages to keep up in his own right.
Hap and Leonard will return next year to SundanceTV. Stay tuned with mxdwn Television for more information regarding the series.