Ethan Hawke Is Onto a Big Story in FX’s ‘The Lowdown’ Trailer

A well-established trope in film noir is that the protagonist comes out somewhat worse for wear by the end of the story. From the looks of its trailer, FX’s forthcoming series The Lowdown will stay true to that.

As lead character Lee Raybon, Ethan Hawke gets beaten up (and manhandled, and shoved in the trunk of a car) a good amount in the trailer. The reason? Lee is a self-appointed “truthstorian” who is committed to exposing corruption in Tulsa, Oklahoma, which often gets him sideways with those in power.

The Lowdown is Sterlin Harjo’s follow-up to the critically hailed Reservation Dogs at FX. Watch the trailer for the “Tulsa noir” series below.

Here’s how FX describes The Lowdown: “When the publication of Lee’s latest exposé — a deep dive into the powerful Washberg family — is immediately followed by the suspicious suicide of Dale Washberg (Tim Blake Nelson), the black sheep of the family, Lee knows he’s stumbled onto something big. Following a trail of breadcrumbs Dale has left behind, urging someone to dig deeper into the circumstances surrounding his death, Lee does just that. What Lee finds is that Betty Jo (Jeanne Tripplehorn), the grieving widow, seems to be more interested in her brother-in-law Donald Washberg (Kyle MacLachlan), a gubernatorial candidate, than in her dearly departed. And powerful forces want to prevent Lee from learning anything more.”

The series also stars Ryan Kiera Armstrong (Skeleton Crew, Hulu’s Buffy the Vampire Slayer reboot) Kaniehtiio Horn (Reservation Dogs) and Keith David (Duster). Harjo created The Lowdown, which is set to premiere Sept. 23, and executive produces with Hawke, Garrett Basch and Ryan Hawke. FX Productions is the studio.