“HAP AND LEONARD”SundanceTV has released online the first 2 episodes of its new original series, "Hap and Leonard," which is based on the award-winning novel franchise by Joe Lansdale.

Set in the late 1980s, “Hap and Leonard” is a darkly comic swamp noir story of two unlikely best friends, one femme fatale, a crew of has-been radicals, some lost loot and a ton of bloody mayhem! Based on a series of books and short stories from famed American author Joe Lansdale, the anthology follows the adventures of Hap Collins and Leonard Pine.  The two are chronically single, perpetually broke and guided by an old fashioned sense of honor and morality – but the similarities end there.

Hap Collins (James Purefoy) is an East Texas white boy with a weakness for Southern women. After serving time in the slammer for refusing to fight in Vietnam during his youth, he is now in his 40s and barely making ends meet picking roses on a plantation. His lifelong best friend and cohort in the rose-picking field is Leonard Pine (Michael K Williams), a gay, black Vietnam vet with a hot temper who won’t hesitate to threaten anyone over a slight or an injustice…or just because he’s in a bad mood. When Hap’s seductive ex-wife Trudy (Christina Hendricks) re-enters their lives, she offers them a deal they can’t refuse. Chock full of action and stuffed to the gills with a cast of eccentric characters, “Hap and Leonard” provides a country twist on the classic mystery thriller with a healthy side of Southern-fried humor to boot.

The series was greenlit for 6 one-hour episodes to premiere on Wed., Mar. 2 at 10/9c (last night) only on SundanceTV.

Sarah Barnett, BBC America president, said previously, "Equal parts shocking and hilarious, ‘Hap and Leonard’ will cut through in a crowded TV landscape as irresistible southern pulp noir. Jim Mickle and Nick Damici have a delightfully fresh approach to storytelling, creating vivid characters set in a picaresque world of deep friendship and occasional blood curdling incident." She continued, "What’s more, Jim and Nick are true Sundance voices, having made a splash in recent years at Sundance Film Festival with their feature film. We couldn’t be happier to add ‘Hap and Leonard’ to our line up of daring scripted shows."

Immediately below you’ll find both full episodes of the series, which aired last night on SundanceTV. If they don’t play for you, you’ll have to watch the episodes on SundanceTV’s website here: bit.ly/1l0Uonw