Netflix Unveils Brutal Western Series Featuring The Terminal List Star

Netflix has released the first images of their upcoming western series, American Primeval, which looks as brutal as it was promised to be. The show stars Taylor Kitsch and Betty Gilpin, capturing a fictionalized version of the beginning of the American West, and all the blood spilled throughout. It’s too early to tell if Netflix has a hit on their hands, but it’s safe to say that they have gone above and beyond to deliver an epic take on the Western genre with American Primeval.

American Primeval, a six-episode limited series, comes from the minds of director Peter Berg, writer Mark L. Smith, and showrunner/executive producer Eric Newman. Kitsch reunites with Berg after previously collaborating on Lone Survivor, a visceral action film based on the true story of soldiers on a perilous mission during the war in Afghanistan. He also directed the 2016 disaster masterpiece Deepwater Horizon, now streaming for free. With American Primeval, the director and crew hope to bring the West to life in the ultimate survival tale. Berg had this to say about the ambitious project:

“We are very appreciative that Netflix is trusting us to take a big swing with
American Primeval.
I’m looking forward to taking viewers into the most dynamic, intense, and heart-pounding survival tale humanly possible. We are going into the belly of the beast.”

In addition to Kitsch and Gilpin, the cast includes Dane DeHaan, Jai Courtney, Shawnee Pourier, Saura Lightfoot-Leon, Shea Whigham, Irene Bedard, Derek Hinkey, Preston Mota, and Kim Coates. As the images suggest, the upcoming survival drama will not be for the faint of heart. The filmmakers have seemingly held up their hand of the bargain by delivering a brutal, bloody interpretation of the American West. Although the Western genre is filled with such attempts, this will be Netflix’s major attempt at capitalizing on the Yellowstone craze by delivering their own unique spin. The stacked cast and extremely talented behind the scenes crew is enough to excite most, let alone the images released.

American Primeval Images Tease Brutal Western Ride

Netflix also released plot details for American Primeval and revealed who is playing who, but an official trailer has not been released yet. Taylor Kitsch is the series lead, Isaac, described by the streamer as “a traumatized man struggling to overcome his demons.” Meanwhile, Betty Gilpin (GLOW, The Hunt, Mrs. Davis) is Sara Rowell, an unraveling mother that is “seeking a guide across the frontier for her and her son, Devin.” Both are series leads, and will presumably cross paths at some point during the bloody, violent journey. Suffice it to say, the official images and series details tease a no-holds-barred approach to American history. The official plot synopsis for American Primeval from Netflix:

“This is America, 1857. Up is down, pain is everywhere, innocence and tranquility are losing the battle to hatred and fear. Peace is the shrinking minority, and very few possess grace — even fewer know compassion. There’s no safe haven in these wild lands, and only one goal matters: survival.
American Primeval
is a fictionalized dramatization and examination of the violent collision of culture, religion, and community as men and women fight and die for control of this world. The ensemble tells a story of the sacrifice all must pay when they choose to enter the lawless and brutal frontier.”

Although Netflix is no stranger to producing Western movies (some much better than others), this is the streamer attempting to replicate the success of the American drama Yellowstone but with a darker twist. Yes, they just released an Australian alternative starring Anna Torv titled Territory, but American Primeval promises to be a much more action-packed experience.