Hulu is expanding its prestige drama slate with Southern Bastards, a new series pilot directed and executive produced by Reinaldo Marcus Green and based on the acclaimed graphic novel series by Jason Aaron and Jason Latour.
The series has officially cast Erin Kellyman, Kevin Bacon, and Tim McGraw in leading roles, setting the stage for a tense Southern noir centered on power, legacy, and corruption in small-town Alabama.
At the heart of the story is Craw County, where a decorated military vet returns in search of her estranged father—only to uncover a deeply entrenched criminal empire hidden beneath the town’s high school football glory.
Kellyman plays Roberta, a former Marine facing military charges after an incident in Afghanistan. Intelligent, volatile, and emotionally layered, Roberta is navigating generational trauma while seeking revenge—until her mission forces her to confront whether destruction or belonging is the real goal.
McGraw plays Coach Boss, the iconic high school football coach who doubles as the architect of a sprawling criminal operation. Charismatic and ruthless, he represents the darker mythology of Southern sports culture, where influence and violence often blur.
Bacon portrays Earl, the son of a powerful former sheriff whose legacy still echoes through Craw County’s power structure.
The project comes from Onyx Collective, POV Entertainment, and Proximity Media in association with Fifth Season. Writing duties are handled by Bill Dubuque, with executive production from Matt Olmstead, who also serves as showrunner. Additional EPs include Nia DaCosta and Ryan Coogler alongside Sev Ohanian and Zinzi Coogler, among others.
Kellyman was most recently seen in 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, while McGraw continues to build his screen résumé following roles in Taylor Sheridan’s Yellowstone universe and 1883.