FX Orders Drama Pilot Hoke Starring Paul Giamatti

FX has given the green light to drama pilot Hoke, which will star Paul Giamatti, the network announced Wednesday.

Based on Charles Willeford's series of novels, Hoke is a dark dramedy about midlife crisis and murder featuring the hardboiled and possibly insane homicide detective Hoke Moseley (Giamatti) in 1985 Miami.

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The pilot will be written and directed by Scott Frank (Out of Sight, Get Shorty), who will also executive-produce alongside Giamatti, Curtis Hanson, Carol Fenelon and Dan Carey.

"Like Elmore Leonard, Charles Willeford is one of the most deeply respected writers of crime fiction and he created a wholly original and colorful lead character in Detective Hoke Mosely," said FX President of Original Programming Eric Schrier. "Scott Frank delivered a magnificent script and we are honored that Paul Giamatti will bring Hoke to life.  We're grateful to Curtis Hanson, Carol Fenelon, Paul, and Dan Carey for bringing us this project."

Production is slated to begin later this year in Miami.

Giamatti is best known for starring in 2004's wine-soaked filmSideways. He next appears in the Christmas episode ofDownton Abbey's upcoming season.