Coen brothers make TV switch with western

Legendary filmmakers Joel and Ethan Coen are set make the leap to television for the first time, continuing the flow of film directors flipping to the small screen.

The Coens are working on a western-themed minseries titled The Ballad of Buster Scruggs along with American Hustle prodco Annapurna Pictures TV arm, which former HBO programming chief Sue Naegle leads.

Variety reported the limited series would attempt “an innovative approach that could combine television and theatrical” distribution.

The Coens are writing the scripts, which are based on an original idea, and will direct the project. They previously tackled the western genre with 2011 film True Grit and 2007’s No Country for Old Men, and will work on Buster Scruggs through their Mike Zoss Productions label.

Plotlines are unknown, but Variety reports there will be six intertwining stories.

Annapurna founder Megan Ellison and president of television Naegle will executive produce the project.

The Coen brothers are best known for movies such as The Big Lebowski, A Serious Man and Fargo, the latter of which was adapted by Noah Hawley as a series for US network FX and is heading towards a third season.