Who's Going to Be a Boyd Replacement in Justified: City Primeval?
It appears that the next instalment in the Justified saga will feature an even more formidable antagonist.
FX managed to cement its reputation as the leading drama network in 2010 when it adapted Elmore Leonard's short story, Fire in the Hole, into the hit show Justified. The series starred Timothy Olyphant as the tormented U.S. Marshal Raylan Givens and ran for six increasingly impressive seasons. When the show concluded in 2015, fans were eager to see both Raylan and his greatest adversary, Boyd Crowder, once more. It seems that FX has listened to its viewers, as they are now producing the follow-up series Justified: City Primeval.
The new show will be based on Leonard's 1980 novel of the same name, in which Raylan takes on the challenge of apprehending Clement Mansell, the deranged Oklahoma Wildman. Initially, fans of the original series were sceptical that any villain could surpass Boyd in terms of sheer malevolence. However, FX appears to be betting on Boyd Holbrook to become the most formidable foe Raylan has ever encountered.
'There's definitely no room for Boyd, and it's good to hear they didn't even entertain the idea of indulging 99.99% pure fanservice to wedge him in there. Especially since Boyd Holbrook is apparently let all the way off the leash on this one to play Clement Mansell,' a fan noted.
Despite the potential for Holbrook to deliver a performance even more captivating than Walton Goggins' portrayal in the original show, fans are still questioning whether FX will exclude Boyd entirely. Several possibilities exist for his inclusion in the new show.
'I won't be surprised if the writers find a way to justify Raylan visiting Boyd in the pen, even if it's just as a bookend. I also speculated that he may have a low point where he visits Boyd to reminisce about the past, or to reinforce something he wants to believe about himself,' another fan argued.
It seems that while Clement may prove to be a formidable antagonist, fans are still eager to see Boyd again and receive an update on their much-beloved villain, who is currently serving time behind bars.
Justified: City Primeval is set to premiere on FX on 18 July 2023.
Source: Reddit.