Ethan Hawke Spotted Filming New FX Series in Bartlesville

BARTLESVILLE, Okla. — Oscar-nominated actor Ethan Hawke has been sighted around Bartlesville as production begins on a new FX series. The show, which was previously titled “The Sensitive Kind,” features Hawke as a character described as someone who “knows too much.” Although details are scarce, local residents have shared sightings of Hawke, further fueling excitement surrounding the project.

In recent weeks, fans have spotted Hawke in Tulsa, and production crews have set up near Bartlesville. As of Wednesday morning, city officials confirmed a request to reserve parking near Bartlesville City Hall for filming on Monday, March 31, indicating that the production team may soon move operations downtown.

Hawke’s series is co-created by Sterlin Harjo, who is also directing and executive producing the show. Much of the filming has taken place at Hughes Ranch, just outside Bartlesville, with nearby restaurants providing catering services for the cast and crew.

“We have been working with a TV production in the last few months that has filmed at a local ranch,” said Maria Gus, the director of Visit Bartlesville. “They have scouted several areas in the Bartlesville community. This production has included overnight stays, crew utilizing restaurants, and small businesses being used for services.”

The economic impact of the filming is still unknown, but the production is expected to last around 20 days, drawing up to 150 crew members on certain days. Gus likened the influx of crew members to hosting visitors for a conference or convention.

Local residents are also getting involved in the production. Bartlesville resident Tim Hudson shared that he has worked three days on set as an extra, portraying a militia member, a dinner guest, and a bar patron. “I’ve had scenes with Ethan Hawke and Tim Blake Nelson, who’s also from Oklahoma,” Hudson said. “It’s cool to see them using locals. I’m living proof.”

Despite the tight-lipped nature of filming, excitement among locals is growing. “I know it’s about a journalist,” Hudson added. “But honestly, we don’t know much. You might work five hours and show up for a minute and a half. I can’t wait to watch it and find out.”

Another local, Josh Waddell, described his experience as an extra while filming in downtown Tulsa as “really fun.” Waddell humorously noted his proximity to Hawke, stating, “Well, I didn’t touch Ethan Hawke, but I sat in a booth catty-corner from him, eating breakfast.”

Waddell declined to spoil any details about the plot but did share a lighthearted moment from filming. “At the end, they did ad-libs — everyone stayed in character, making jokes. It was very entertaining,” he said. “You’ll have to watch it yourself. But keep an eye out for my elbow — it’s in the background for like four or five seconds.”

The project marks a reunion for Hawke and Harjo, who collaborated previously on the critically acclaimed series “Reservation Dogs,” which concluded its run in 2023. That series garnered multiple Emmy nominations and further established Harjo as a significant figure in Indigenous storytelling and Oklahoma-rooted media.

As the Bartlesville community eagerly anticipates the arrival of Hawke and his crew, city staff continue processing parking requests, while residents watch for cameras and signs of the Hollywood production transforming their hometown.