Far Cry is getting a Noah Hawley anthology on Hulu — will it keep the chaos fans love?

Far Cry on TV: Why this actually matters to players

Far Cry is finally jumping off screens and onto television-and it’s doing so in a way that could actually make sense. FX is developing a live-action, anthology series based on Ubisoft’s long-running shooter franchise, with Noah Hawley (Fargo, Legion) producing and Rob McElhenney (It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia) headlining season one. The show will stream on Hulu in the U.S. and on Disney+ internationally. For gamers, that’s not just another cash-in adaptation; it could be the rare TV translation that mirrors what made the games click: huge settings, eccentric villains, and self-contained stories each season.

• Anthology format aligns with how Far Cry games are structured-new location, new antagonist, new chaos each time.
• Noah Hawley’s involvement raises expectations for tone and character work-but also questions about fidelity to the source material.
• Platform choice (Hulu/Disney+) ensures broad reach, but global access and creative freedom may collide.
• Fans want familiar faces (Michael Mando’s live-action Vaas cameo keeps being referenced); casting decisions will make or break credibility.

Breaking down the announcement

FX opted for an anthology structure—each season tells a standalone story in a new setting. That’s smart. Far Cry’s games are episodic in spirit: Far Cry 3’s island, Far Cry 4’s Himalayan kingdom, Far Cry 5’s cult-in-America—all different movies in videogame form. Noah Hawley, who’s built a reputation for turning crime and weirdness into textured TV (Fargo’s tone and structure are a clear template), seems like the obvious choice to translate that tone. Rob McElhenney’s casting is surprising but potentially inspired: he can sell both menace and absurdity, which is exactly what a great Far Cry villain/lead needs.

Ubisoft’s move follows a broader trend: publishers are leaning into long-form TV because it gives time to build character and atmosphere—two things that usually die in two-hour films. Assassin’s Creed’s trajectory has already shown studios that there’s an appetite for serialized adaptations of big game IPs. The question now is whether Far Cry’s particular brand of escalation—big set pieces, cults, charismatic sociopaths—translates better to episodic TV than to a single feature.

What gamers should pay attention to

First: story vs. fan service. An anthology gives Hawley permission to craft original arcs rather than slavishly adapt game scripts, which is usually the right move. A faithful tone—moral ambiguity, localized chaos, and an antagonist who steals every scene—matters more than hit-for-hit fidelity to game beats. That said, fans will watch for nods like Vaas or Joseph Seed equivalents. Michael Mando’s live-action appearance as Vaas in a Far Cry 3 trailer is still held up by fans as a benchmark; bringing actors like him in would be a smart way to bridge the two media.

Second: platform and content limits. Hulu in the U.S. suggests the series can be violent and messy—exactly what Far Cry needs. Disney+ international distribution expands the audience but raises the risk of unnecessary dilution in marketing or tone to please global sensibilities. FX is good at walking that line, but creative freedom isn’t guaranteed forever.

Creator takeaways (translated)

Rob McElhenney expressed genuine enthusiasm: “Working alongside Noah Hawley is a dream come true. Ubisoft has shown incredible generosity in trusting us with one of the most iconic video game universes ever created.” Noah Hawley framed the anthology approach as an obvious match: “What I love about the Far Cry franchise is its anthology nature. Each game is a variation on the same theme.”

These quotes matter because they signal intent: the team gets the franchise’s DNA and isn’t pitching a rote adaptation. But good intentions don’t guarantee quality—Hawley’s style and McElhenney’s instincts will need to fuse with Ubisoft’s IP management to avoid sanitizing what makes Far Cry fun.

Why this matters now

Streaming services are starving for recognizable IP they can stretch into multiple seasons. Far Cry offers a built-in anthology model that other game adaptations lack. It also gives Ubisoft an opportunity to rehabilitate its adaptation track record—if FX delivers a season that feels like a dark, cinematic six- to ten-episode game level, it could become the blueprint for future game-to-TV transitions.

Looking ahead — the good and the skeptical

Good: Broadway-level talent, an anthology structure that mirrors the games, and distribution on major streaming platforms. Skeptical: Will Ubisoft let the show get weird and violent enough? Will each season be truly new, or just Far Cry in a different costume? And crucially, will the series win over players who expect gameplay-driven tension and emergent chaos rather than tightly scripted drama?

TL;DR: This is the most promising Far Cry adaptation pitch we’ve seen—no shortcuts, an anthology that fits the IP, and names attached who know how to build atmosphere. But execution matters: give Hawley room to be weird, cast actors who can own the madness, and don’t neuter what makes Far Cry fun. If FX and Ubisoft get that right, players could finally have a Far Cry TV show that feels like playing the best missions of the series—only with better dialogue.