“The Ballad of Buster Scruggs” will begin streaming in 2018.
Seven years after they scored a major box-office hit with their critically acclaimed remake of True Grit — which posted an international gross of over $250 million — Oscar-winning filmmakers Joel and Ethan Coen are once again roaming the Wild West with The Ballad of Buster Scruggs, an anthology miniseries featuring Tim Blake Nelson, James Franco, Tyne Daly, Zoe Kazan and other notables in its diverse cast.
Netflix announced Tuesday that the streaming service would be offering the show to subscribers in 2018. “The Coens are visionary directors, masterful storytellers, and colorful linguists,” said Cindy Holland, vice-president of original content for Netflix. “We are thrilled for Netflix to become home to the full range of their talents.”
The miniseries currently is filming on location in New Mexico, where the Coen Brothers previously shot True Grit and their Academy Award-winning No Country for Old Men. As the Albuquerque Journal reported, Nick Maniatis, director of the New Mexico Film Office, welcomed the return of the Coens: “To have filmmakers with the distinction of the Coen Brothers return for a third time is a testament to the quality of our crews, our support services, our infrastructure, our communities and our significant work to let filmmakers know they’re welcome in New Mexico.”
The Albuquerque Journal also revealed some plot details for The Ballad of Buster Scruggs. Each chapter will feature a distinct story about the American West. The first of the six episodes — the title story in the anthology — is about a singing cowboy played by Tim Blake Nelson. As for the other five:
Near Algodones
A high-plains drifter finds his own fecklessness dogs his attempts at bank robbery and cattle driving.
Meal Ticket
The misadventures of an actor and impresario of a traveling show.
All Gold Canyon
A prospector happily finds a gold seam — but then unhappily finds an evil encroacher.
The Gal Who Got Rattled
Two trail bosses on the Oregon Trail interact with a woman on the wagon train who needs the help of one of the men — and who might be a marriage prospect for the other.
The Mortal Remains
Five very different passengers on a stagecoach journey toward a mysterious destination.
The Ballad of Buster Scruggs will be written, produced and directed by Joel and Ethan Coen in association with Annapurna Television.