FX casts Ewan McGregor in double 'Fargo' role

Ewan McGregor has hit the Fargo daily double, scoring two roles in the next installment of FX's Emmy-winning limited series.

The Scottish film star (Black Hawk Down, Trainspotting, Star Wars franchise) has been cast in the lead role — or roles — playing very different brothers Emmit and Ray Stussy, who are not twins. McGregor is the first casting announcement for the upcoming edition, which is expected to begin filming late this year for broadcast in 2017.

According to the description of the characters, "Emmit Stussy is the Parking Lot King of Minnesota. A handsome, self-made real estate mogul and family man, Emmit sees himself as an American success story. His slightly younger brother, Ray Stussy, on the other hand is more of a cautionary tale. Balding, pot-bellied, Ray is the kind of guy who peaked in high school. Now a parole officer, Ray has a huge chip on his shoulder about the hand he’s been dealt, and he blames his brother, Emmit, for his misfortunes."

“It’s the story of two brothers and a feud between them on some level. And the brothers are just a couple of years apart,” executive producer Noah Hawley tells USA TODAY.

Hawley confirms the third installment will again be set primarily in Minnesota, this time in 2010, four years after Season 1 and three decades after the origin story of Season 2. One character from one of the earlier seasons will appear, too.

He offers one more tidbit: Two leading law enforcement officials will be women, one a chief of police and the other an officer from a different jurisdiction.

McGregor will star in the upcoming film, American Pastoral, which also features Jennifer Connelly and Dakota Fanning. It will be his film directing debut. He is also starring in T2: Trainspotting 2.

Hawley writes Fargo and oversees day-to-day operation of the limited series. Brothers Joel and Ethan Coen, who directed the 1996 film of the same name; Warren Littlefield and John Cameron are also executive producers of Fargo, which is produced by MGM Television and FX Productions..