Taika Waititi (Hunt for the Wilderpeople, Jojo Rabbit) and Sterlin Harjo’s (Mekko, Barking Water) comedy series Reservation Dogs has found a home at FX. Given a series order, it follows four Native American kids committing crime in Oklahoma, as reported by Variety.
Harjo, a Native American director born and raised in Oklahoma, directed the pilot which was shot on location in Okmulgee, OK. Harjo also co-wrote the pilot script with Waititi. They both will co-executive produce alongside Garret Basch (What We Do in the Shadows). FX Productions serves as the studio for Reservation Dogs.
Harjo responded to the news of FX giving the pilot a series order in a statement picked up by Variety: “As longtime friends, it was only natural that Taika and I found a project together, and what better than a show that celebrates the complementary storytelling styles of our indigenous communities––mine in Oklahoma and Taika’s in Aotearoa…We’re thrilled by the opportunity to tell the Reservation Dogs’ story with our amazing cast and crew, Garrett Basch, and the whole team at FX.”
Detailing the lives of four Native American teens, Reservation Dogs stars D’Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai (Creeped Out) as Bear, Devery Jacobs (American Gods) as Elora Danan, Paulina Alexis (Beans) as Wille Jack, and Lane Factor in his debut role as Cheese. The pilot also features guest appearances by rappers Lil Mike and Funny Bone, Tamara Podemski (Run), Zahn McClarnon (Fargo, Westtworld), and Macon Blair (I Don’t Feel at Home in This World Anymore).
Nick Grad, FX Entertainment president of original programming, was the one who broke the news of Reservation Dogs getting a series order. Variety picked up the statement Grad released to the media: “Sterlin Harjo draws deeply on his experiences as a Native Oklahoman to make ‘Reservation Dogs’ a true-to-life and incredibly funny story of youth, courage and misadventures…Taika Waititi lends his considerable talents to the series, helping Sterlin and their creative partner Garrett Basch produce a unique and original series we can’t wait for audiences to see.”
Reservation Dogs marks Waititi’s second series at FX. He executive produces and writes the network’s comedy series about Staten Island vampires What We Do in the Shadows, which is based on his 2014 film under the same name. He recently won the Best Adapted Screenplay Oscar for writing Jojo Rabbit at the 2020 Academy Awards. He’s also venturing into another television project, making a series at HBO Max detailing the lives pirates, Our Flag Means Death.