News

Director Alejandro G. Iñárritu's epic Western The Revenantis officially headed to a new streaming home.

Per Hulu, 2015's The Revenant is slated to premiere on the streaming platform in less than two weeks. Fans will be able to begin streaming The Revenant on Hulu on April 1.

Directed by Iñárritu from a script co-written with Mark L. Smith, which was adapted from Michael Punke's 2002 novel of the same name and is itself based on the 1915 poem The Song of Hugh Glass by John G. Neihardt, The Revenant stars Leonardo DiCaprio as a fictionalized version of the legendary frontiersman and trapper, Hugh Glass. The film follows Glass after a brutal bear attack leaves him at the mercy of his fellow trappers, who decide to end his life out of mercy. When Glass' son intervenes and is killed for defending his father, the elder trapper takes on a mission of revenge...

American Primeval is the most popular Netflix show of 2025 so far! It's still early, but fans want to know if American Primeval season 2 is happening and what's next for the series from writer Mark L. Smith and director Peter Berg.

American Primeval starring Betty Gilpin and Taylor Kitsch premiered on Netflix on Jan. 9 and has been a huge hit for Netflix since then. The series follows Sara (Gilpin) on her journey West in 1857 with her young son, Devin (Preston Mota). After Sara and Devin are caught up in the Mountain Meadows Massacre, Isaac Reed (Kitsch) tries to lead them to safety, but dangers lurk in these lands. The series was inspired by real events.

While the American Primeval ending doesn't necessarily set up a clear second season, there's definitely some story left to be explored in American Primeval season 2. It doesn't sound like Berg and Smith are interested in taking the story in that direction.

With the release of Netflix's hit Western limited series American Primeval, audiences have been working to separate the fact from the fiction concerning many of the characters and events portrayed. One of the most notable cast members was Shea Whigham, who played longtime mountain man Jim Bridger. History buffs may recognize the name as one of the most famous frontiersmen of the early-to-mid 1800s, and moviegoers will remember a younger version of the character, played by Will Poulter, in 2015's The Revenant. Considering both American Primeval and The Revenant were penned by Mark L. Smith, it's clear that the screenwriter is fascinated with Bridger, but why? The key lies in the mountain man's history. If you've been wondering how Fort Bridger came to be or what happened to Jim Bridger afterward, you've come to the right place.

Since its Netflix debut on January 9, American Primeval has been making headlines as one of the most brutal, gritty must-watch Western sagas ever to grace our television screens.

Taking place in 1857 Utah, the series follows fugitive mother Sara Roswell (Betty Gilpin) and her son Devin (Preston Mota) as they navigate the lawless terrain with their guide, Isaac Reed (Taylor Kitsch). It depicts the bloody, violent collision of early American settlers with indigenous tribes, cultists, religion, bounty hunters, the U.S. government, and ruthless ole Mother Nature herself.

In the wake of its success, questions abound as to whether the story is based on actual events. The answer, my dear friends, is yes, American Primeval is based on the true and deadly story of the Mountain Meadows Massacre. It also portrays real-life people. Director Peter Berg said he found inspiration for American Primeval in 2020 after reading a story about the Utah War.

American Primeval is Netflix's response to the latest rise in Western projects in Hollywood, and while it's a hit among audiences, the critics are a little bit more hesitant to buy into its story. The TV miniseries, created and written by Mark L. Smith, is partially inspired by a true story. American Primeval primarily revolves around the Mountain Meadows Massacre during the Utah War in 1857. It focuses on the fight between Native Americans, settlers, and Mormons over the Utah Territory and how all the groups turned to violence to gain control of the land in the Old West.

Given American Primeval's story, the Western genre's comeback, and the show's stellar cast (which includes Taylor Kitsch and Betty Gilpin), it's not surprising it has been sitting at the top of Netflix's charts. The miniseries has experienced massive success since its premiere on January 9, 2025. However, while American Primeval's impressive...

[This story contains spoilers from Netflix’s American Primeval.]

“We do believe that people, if they want to understand where we’re at today, should look at where we were then,” director Peter Berg told a small room of reporters last October, as he, executive producer Eric Newman and Indigenous Consultant Julie O’Keefe, gathered at Netflix’s L.A. office as part of an early look at their project American Primeval.

The Western drama, which debuted Jan. 9 on Netflix, is less interested in Hollywood’s historically rose-colored, inspirational, adventurous — and sometimes even melodramatic — telling of America’s founding. Instead, the six-episode miniseries is more focused on how people and their explicable and inexplicable violence shaped a moment in U.S. history that ultimately led to the forging of a nation.

Set within one of the more brutal and uncompromising periods of American history — the 19th Century Westward expansion — the show depicts the run-up to...

[This story contains mild spoilers from Netflix’s American Primeval.]

In a television landscape where Taylor Sheridan has largely cornered the market on stories about western expansion with Yellowstone and its spinoffs 1883 and 1923, American Primeval has stood out for its exploration of the Utah Territory and the role settlers from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Lds) played in halting migration to the area. The efforts of which culminated in the gruesome 1857 Mountain Meadows Massacre, depicted in the Netflix miniseries, that left some 120 travelers dead.

The six-episode Western drama written and created by Mark L. Smith and directed by Peter Berg, follows the journey of Sara (Betty Gilpin), a woman on the run, who seeks out a guide at Fort Bridger in Wyoming to assist her in transporting her young son Devin (Preston Mota) to his father in Missouri. It’s at the fort founded by Jim Bridger (Shea Whigham) that she encounters Isaac Reed...

American Primeval episode 6, the series finale, begins shortly after the events of episode 5. Virgil (Jai Courtney) and the bounty hunters finally caught up with Sara (Betty Gilpin). Virgil ties her up on a horse and heads for Fort Bridger, trying to put as much distance between themselves and Isaac (Taylor Kitsch) as possible.

Elsewhere, Abish (Saura Lightfoot-Leon) has convinced Red Feather (Derek Hinkey) and the Shoshone that the Mormons led by Wild Bill (Alex Breaux) and James Wolsey (Joe Tippett) will not stop looking for her until she is killed. At this point, she is the only remaining survivor from the attack that they know about. She's the one who could pin the attack on Brigham Young's forces, so they need to eliminate her. After they wiped out the US Army forces, they'll be heading to the Shoshone next.

Isaac rescues Sara and kills Virgil

In the first scene of...

American Primeval episode 4 ends with the Mormons learning the US Army is about to attack thanks to a traitor in the US Army's ranks. We know Wild Bill and Brigham Young will not let that happen, and it sets up a major showdown between the Mormons and the US Army in American Primeval episode 5.

In addition, Devin (Preston Mota) just broke his leg after getting it stomped on by a horse. Isaac (Taylor Kitsch), Sara (Betty Gilpin), and Two Moons (Shawnee Pourier) take shelter in a convenient cabin while Devin heals.

Overall, American Primeval episode 5 is the shortest episode of the season. You'll notice this recap is notably shorter, as well, compared to the other American Primeval recaps. While there are some major events, the penultimate episode moves the many pieces around for clashes in the finale.

The Mormons attack Captain Dellinger and the US Army forces

In the first scene of American Primeval,...

American Primeval raises the stakes in episode 4! Halfway through the season, the main storylines continue to converge. War is coming to the West, and it's just a matter of time before the shooting begins.

American Primeval episode 4 begins shortly after the events of episode 3. Sara (Betty Gilpin) and Isaac (Taylor Kitsch) continue their trek through the snowy mountains as they make for Crooks Springs while bounty hunters follow. Elsewhere, Brigham Young (Kim Coates) and his Mormons continue to carve out space to practice their religion by force. Abish (Saura Lightfoot-Leon) begins to settle in and understand the Shoshone.

Bridger clashes with Brigham Young again

At Fort Bridger, Brigham Young (Kim Coates) continues his pursuit of the fort by getting into some hijinks with Jim Bridger (Shea Whigham) and his pigs. Wild Bill (Alex Breaux) tries to buy Bridger's pigs, Bridger isn't about to let that happen. He nearly chops off Bill's foot with a shovel.

Warning: Contains Spoilers for The Revenant!

American Primeval is a popular new Western drama miniseries from Netflix, and while the show tells an original story, it also acts as a secret sequel to Leonardo DiCaprio's The Revenant. In the 10 years since it was released, 2015's The Revenant has become a Western classic, with it following the true story of Leonardo DiCaprio's Hugh Glass as he attempts to get revenge on his son's killers after a brutal bear attack. While DiCaprio's The Revenant character doesn't appear in American Primeval, the series does have a major connection to the true story behind the Oscar-winning film.

Netflix's American Primeval follows a mother and son as they attempt to cross the dangers of the frontier, with Betty Gilpin's Sara Rowell seeking out a guide to help them survive and find her husband. The miniseries comes from director Peter Berg and The Revenant writer Mark L. Smith.

American Primeval on Netflix is a violent and intense look at the American frontier. Set during the 1850s, American Primeval includes characters in search of safety and prosperity, although their interests clash with dire consequences. Numerous groups and individuals in American Primeval compete for personal, political, and religious freedom. Indigenous Americans, Mormon settlers, and the federal government all have vested interests in Utah Territory. The key characters each shape how the story unfolds and the actors' stellar performances bring the American West's gritty action to life.

Many of the names in American Primeval are from history and several of the faces of the performers are very familiar. Here's a look at the characters and the cast of American Primeval.

Your changes have been saved

Email is sent

Email has already been sent

4.5/5 American Primeval DramaHistoryWesternThriller

Release Date January 9, 2025Cast Taylor Kitsch, Jai Courtney, Dane DeHaan, Betty Gilpin, Nick Hargrove, Kyle Bradley Davis,...

In a new Netflix series, the American Primeval follows a horrifying massacre. During the killings over 120 settlers’ lives were taken. Fans jumped to watch the series. Keep reading to find out more about this.

American Primeval Soars To The Top

The new series dropped on Netflix on January 9, 2024. Within 24 hours American Primeval soared to the top 10. The series follows Sara Rowell and her journey west. Sara was a determined mother anxious to get her son, Dustin Rowell, to safety. Rowell hired a guide, Isaac, to take them west. The supposed safe journey became entangled in a battle for the western frontier. During their travels, things took a turn for the worse when an army of Mormon soldiers attacked their party.

The Director of American Primeval said that he was inspired after reading about the Utah War. The war was a battle between the Mormon people and the U.S. government for land ownership and control.

American Primeval episode 3 continues the cat-and-mouse game between Sara (Betty Gilpin), Devin (Preston Mota), Two Moons (Shawnee Pourier), and Isaac (Taylor Kitsch) and those pursuing them.

The third episode slows the pace down a tad as the different groups move around the region, setting up many battles to come between Brigham Young and the Mormons, Jim Bridger of Fort Bridger, Red Feather and the Shoshone people, Sara and Isaac's group, and Virgil's band of outlaws.

Sara, Devin, and Isaac are caught in a trap American Primeval. Betty Gilpin as Sara Rowell in Episode 103 of American Primeval. Cr. Matt Kennedy/Netflix © 2023 | Netfli

After Isaac takes out a camp and steals their horses at the end of episode 2, the party continues their way toward Crooks Springs, but Virgin (Jai Courtney) and his outlaws are close behind.

The group camps along the river, and we learn that Devin's father doesn't know that they are coming.

Warning: Spoilers ahead for American Primeval.

The eerie French family in Netflix's epic period Western series American Primeval draws comparisons to the cannibalistic family in a classic 1977 Wes Craven horror film. American Primeval was written by Mark L. Smith, who co-wrote the screenplay for The Revenant with Alejandro G. Iñárritu. Peter Berg directs all six episodes of American Primeval. Taylor Kitsch leads an ensemble cast as Isaac Reed, which features Betty Gilpin, Dane DeHaan, Saura Lightfoot-Leon, Shea Whigham, Lucas Neff, and Kim Coates as Brigham Young. In addition to Young, American Primeval alters several real-life historical details and figures.

Despite its 59% Rotten Tomatoes score, it earned an 86% audience score and has been in Netflix's Top 10 TV Shows in the United States since it was released on January 9, 2025. Kitsch previously starred in the Peter Berg film Lone Survivor alongside Mark Wahlberg and Berg's classic television series Friday Night Lights.

Netflix’s American Primeval may be a Western tale, but not of the kind where a gunslinging Clint Eastwood comes out of nowhere to take care of the bad guys. Instead, this one has a lot of intriguing complexities and racial and political troubles in the background that are dealt with in a much more realistic, grounded manner—in line with how the genre has worked in the recent past (The English and The Power of the Dog are profound examples of that). That, of course, makes it a fascinating watch where everything, from the acting to the writing to the direction to the cinematography, is pretty much perfect. Armed with a scintillating soundtrack by Explosions in the Sky, American Primeval is most definitely the first great show of 2025. There’s no shortage of violence in it, but you’d be disappointed if you were looking for any conventional hero moments.

American Primeval, a six-part miniseries on Netflix, stars Shae Whigham, Taylor Kitsch, Kim Coates, and Betty Gilpin as it explores the gritty and harsh life on the American frontier. The Western is based in part on real events that took place in Utah during the 1850s and incorporates many of the same brutality and fortitude exhibited by the people who lived through them.

The bloodshed in American Primeval may not be a surprise to fans of show creator and writer Mark L. Smith. Smith co-wrote 2015's The Revenant starring Leonardo DiCaprio with director Alejandro G. Inarritu. Like American Primeval, The Revenant was also based on the life of a real frontiersman named Hugh Glass and featured acts of extreme violence, notably the famous bear mauling scene.

Director and executive producer of American Primeval, Peter Berg, and the other makers of the miniseries went to great lengths to ensure a level of authenticity,...

Warning: Spoilers ahead for American Primeval & Bone Tomahawk.

Few Westerns, particularly those set in the Old West, are as brutally violent as Bone Tomahawk and the new Netflix series American Primeval. American Primeval was written by Mark L. Smith, who co-wrote the screenplay for The Revenant with Alejandro G. Iñárritu. Peter Berg directs all six episodes of American Primeval. Taylor Kitsch leads an ensemble cast as Isaac Reed, which features Betty Gilpin, Dane DeHaan, Saura Lightfoot-Leon, Shea Whigham, Lucas Neff, and Kim Coates as Brigham Young. In addition to Young, American Primeval alters several real-life historical details and figures.

Like American Primeval, Bone Tomahawk is unafraid to get gory, setting up some thrilling combat action sequences. Even though the film was released in 2015, Bone Tomahawk is original enough to feel fresh and original. Featuring a strong ensemble of Kurt Russell, Patrick Wilson, Matthew Fox, Richard Jenkins, and David Arquette, Bone Tomahawk...

Warning: Contains Spoilers for American Primeval!

Jim Bridger and Fort Bridger are major parts of Netflix's American Primeval, and here is their true story, what happened to them in real life, and how they are changed for the Netflix series. American Primeval's cast has a lot of characters, and while some of them are fictional, many of them are real-life historical figures who played a role in the Utah War that is depicted in the series. Jim Bridger is one of the most important figures depicted in American Primeval, and here is the real-life story of Shea Whigham's character and how he connects to Fort Bridger.

Netflix's new Western drama miniseries American Primeval shows how dark the frontier truly was, with the series following Sara Rowell as her son as they attempt to cross it in order to find Sara's husband. While Sara and her party come...

American Primeval episode 1 ends with a massacre of a group of settlers at the hands of Brigham Young's Mormon legion. It's one of the most violent scenes we'll see this year. Well, in American Primeval episode 2, things get even bloodier and more violent.

Before we jump in, let's revisit what happened in episode 1, shortly. Sara (Betty Gilpin) and her son, Devin (Preston Mota), are crossing the Utah Territory in 1857 with a group of Mormons and other settlers heading for parts of the American West. Upon crossing, they are attacked by a Mormon legion and some hired Indigenous people. Luckily, Sara and Devin escape the mayhem, but they are pursued by their attackers, as well as Virgil (Jai Courtney) and his band of outlaws who know there's a bounty on Sara's head for murder and robbery back East.

So, that's where things stand heading into episode 2!

Red Feather lets Jacob Pratt Live American Primeval.

In 1857, the Utah region was a hotbed of conflict, marked by tensions between settlers, native people, and religious groups like the Mormons. This year serves as a crucial backdrop, not only for frontier myths but also for genuine human challenges relevant to current social issues. American Primeval puts viewers right in the middle of this chaos, where Manifest Destiny and the everyday lives of disadvantaged groups clash fiercely.

The Utah War and the Mountain Meadows Massacre best show this. The first one shows religious fanaticism and national pride, while the second one, about a Mormon army killing a wagon train, shows what happens when power is not limited.

The series changes how these events are seen, making people think about violence, representation, and the effects of colonialism. By making traditional Western archetypes more complicated, American Primeval indicates a shift in storytelling that resonates with today’s audiences by highlighting social...

New Western series American Primeval is now streaming with all 6 episodes on Netflix. And I can tell you right now that this one is not for the faint of heart. You need to be able to handle violence in this bloody story that sees conflicts between Native Americans, white settlers, and the very religiously strict Mormons. With the way the season ended, is an American Primeval season 2 likely? Let's discuss! Spoilers Below.

Justin Lubin/Netflix © 2024

As of this writing, Netflix has not renewed or cancelled the show. However it is billed as a limited series. Most of the time that means the series was intended to only be one season, though many times a limited series has been two or even three installments. So that doesn't mean a second season for American Primeval can't happen. Looking at it story wise however, is a potential American Primeval season 2 really even needed?...

Netflix's new violent and graphic Western series, American Primeval, comes to an epic conclusion in episode 6, the series finale.

After watching all six episodes of the series, we're here to share what happens to all of the main characters, including Sara, Devin, Abish and Jacob Pratt, Two Moons, Isaac, Red Feather, Jim Bridger, Brigham Young, and more. Those characters are played by Betty Gilpin, Preston Mota, Saura Lighfoot-Leon, Dane DeHaan, Shawnee Pourier, Taylor Kitsch, Derek Hinkey, Shea Whigham, Kim Coates, and more.

Spoilers ahead for the American Primeval finale!

Sara, Devin, and Two Moons make for California American Primeval. (L to R) Shawnee Pourier as Two Moons, Preston Mota as Devin Rowell and Betty Gilpin as Sara Rowell in Episode 106 of American Primeval. Cr. Justin Lubin/Netflix © 2024 | Netflix

For six episodes, Sara Rowell (Gilpin) dragged her son, Devin (Mota), around the American West in 1857, pursued by a Mormon legion...

Warning: Spoilers ahead for American Primeval.

Netflix's epic period Western series American Primeval is based on a handful of real-life events and historical figures with some altered details. American Primeval is a new major Western streaming series that was released on Netflix on January 9, 2025. The series takes place on the frontier of the American West in 1857, particularly in the somewhat lawless terrain of Utah. The grim, violent, chaotic, and unforgiving American Primeval shows early American settlers, cultists, and indigenous tribes as murderers and survivors in a series of gruesome fights for control of the newly found territory.

American Primeval was written by Mark L. Smith, who co-wrote the screenplay for The Revenant with Alejandro G. Iñárritu. In fact, there are many stylistic similarities between The Revenant and American Primeval in both narrative and visual techniques. Peter Berg directs all six episodes of American Primeval. Taylor Kitsch leads an ensemble cast,...

Directed by Peter Berg, American Primeval takes us back to the mid-1800s and makes us privy to a wild America. As one of the characters in the series stated, having a civilization and being civilized were two very different things; we witnessed a state of extreme lawlessness and chaos. Amidst such chaos, there was a woman, Sara, who wanted to go to Crooks Springs, but she knew that she couldn’t travel such savage lands without a companion who could guide her and her son through hell. In Isaac Reed, she found an unlikely companion, and it changed her life forever. But before moving forward with Sara and Reed’s story, a short disclaimer, all the three characters mentioned above are purely fictional created for dramatic purposes only.

Spoiler Alert

Who Did Sara Murder In Philadelphia?

Sara, a desperate mother wanting to provide a safe future for her child,...

American Primeval, the new Netflix original Western series from Mark L. Smith and Peter Berg, begins in the Utah Territory in 1857. A mother, Sara Rowell (Betty Gilpin), and her young son, Devin (Preston Mota), are waiting for transport in Nowhere, Missouri to meet up with Devin's father. They've hired help for a wagon ride to Fort Bridger, where they will head further West to Crooks Springs with a different party. Quickly, things go way off the rails.

That's the norm for this new Netflix series, which is probably the most violent and gory series you'll see all year. At Fort Bridger, Sara and Devin's transport is already gone, and things go from bad to worse quickly as a fight breaks out and two men are killed while Sara is talking to Mr. Bridger (Shea Whigham) about arranging another passage. This is no place for a child.

Fort Bridger, owned and operated by Jim Bridger,...

If you’re looking for another western to watch these days, “American Primeval” is here to try and fill that gap.

Now streaming on Netflix, the six-episode miniseries takes place in 1857, and 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,” following them as they head west.

Starring Taylor Kitsch and Betty Gilpin, the series has quite a few familiar faces in it. Here’s who you need to know.

Netflix Isaac (Taylor Kitsch)

Taylor Kitsch leads “American Primeval” as Isaac, a man whose past trauma has led to a whole lot of long-term effects. You might know Kitsch for his role as Tim Riggins in “Friday Night Lights,” or from “The Terminal List” and “True Detective.”

Netflix Brigham Young (Kim Coates)

Brigham is the leader of the Mormon Church and his Mormon army,...

With America already on fire just a few days into the year when a convicted felon will ascend to the country’s highest office for a second time, few among us need any additional reminders that life in the United States often feels dangerous, daunting, and devoid of basic human decency. Sitting on the precipice of a billionaire oligarchy, watching the funeral of our most principled, self-sacrificing president, it’s easy to contend things are only getting worse, but Peter Berg’s latest episodic endeavor (alongside “Friday Night Lights” bud Taylor Kitsch) is here to tell you otherwise.

Things aren’t getting worse. America has always been awful. It only seems so bad right now because it’s our turn to live through hell.

Written by Mark L. Smith, “American Primeval” is a familiar western tale making a big, broad statement about how the “wild and untamed” lands of Utah...

Netflix's American Primeval is finally here, and here is a full breakdown of the cast and crew of the Western drama series. American Primeval is one of the most exciting Netflix shows of 2025, with the series coming from director Peter Berg and The Revenant writer Mark L. Smith. The series packs a star-studded cast, so here is who you can expect to see in American Primeval and who they are playing.

American Primeval is a dark and gritty take on the Western genre, with it telling the story of a mother and son who must traverse the dangers of the frontier with the help of a guide. American Primeval is full of tragedy, violence, and heartbreaking moments, with it attempting to highlight how difficult the conditions of the time were. The actors who star in American Primeval do a fantastic job at conveying this dark tone, and here is who they are.

American Primeval is one of those series that draws inspiration from real-life events but takes the creative liberty to tweak historical facts and figures to make the narrative more entertaining and intriguing. I don’t know how right or wrong it is to distort facts and present partial truths to the viewer. In my personal experience, it creates a false impression on the audience, and they develop a fictionalized perception about historical figures, which I don’t think is right. I am not saying that the director tarnished the reputation of any person or community, but still, even if there is an ounce of glorification, distortion, or condescension that is not backed by solid factual evidence, then I believe that it amounts to misrepresentation. That said, I have no authority to pronounce a verdict on anything, and I believe that the viewers should apply their own judgment to reach a conclusion.

America’s past is pock-marked with cruelty, blood and deceit, and while more and more films and movies have tried to show that reality in recent years, actually sitting down to watch bullets fly, bones break and entire populations get wiped out can still feel like a Hollywood gut-punch. Is it entertaining to plop down on the couch to watch a few hours of death after death, rape and religious genocide?

“American Primeval” certainly thinks so. The new six-part Netflix series helmed by “Friday Night” Lights director Peter Berg and written by “The Revenant’s” Mark L. Smith, “American Primeval” revels in its own muck. A fictionalized account of life out west around the 1857 Utah War, which pitted the U.S. Army against Brigham Young’s Mormon militia, “American Primeval” is a dirty but delicate web of intrigue and brutality sparked by a mother and child’s quest to find safety and escape a bounty.

Plot: While exploring the American West, a small group travels across the plains, experiencing violent collisions with cults, religion, and men and women fighting for control of the new world.

Review: When most people think of the Western genre, they envision actors like Clint Eastwood, John Wayne, James Stewart, and Gary Cooper playing six-shooter superheroes with leathery skin, shiny spurs, and a devil-may-care attitude. As icons of an idealized American West, these men often shine as paragons of virtue, justice, and heroism. Still, history bends to the will of the storyteller, someone who can glorify the cowboy and make their actions appear pure and righteous. American Primeval offers no such quarter to its gun-slingers. Though the series presents a fictionalized and dramatized recount of 1857, its depiction of harsh living conditions, cutthroat politics, and relentless violence is all too honest. Saddle up, folks! We’re riding along one of Netflix’s...

American Primeval’s ending tried to resolve the arcs of Isaac, Sara, Devin, Two Moons, Virgil, Gant, Jacob, Abish, Red Feather, James Wolsey, Wild Bill, Brigham Young, and the one and only Jim Bridger. Sara was trying to take her son, Devin, to her husband, who was in Crooks Springs, with the help of Isaac, after she’d killed an influential man in Boston. There was a bounty on Sara’s head, which Virgl was after because, well, he wanted to make some money. Sara got captured by Virgil and was separated from Devin, Isaac, and Two Moons (who was trying to get away from the abusive elements in her tribe). Isaac told Devin and Two Moon to stay put in a hunter’s cabin and went after Sara, Virgil, and his followers. Elsewhere, Governor Brigham tried to take over Fort Bridger by making Jim an offer he couldn’t refuse.

Loosely inspired by the real-life Mountain Meadows Massacre, Netflix’s limited series, American Primeval, tells the story of Sara Rowell and her young son, Devin, who get caught up in the crossfire between the Mormon Militia and the settlers. Sara was going to see her husband in Crooks Springs, California, and she needed a guide who could help her cross the Utah Territory. At Fort Bridger, unable to find a guide, Sara and Devin joined Jacob Pratt and his Mormon group, who were headed in the same direction. While traveling West towards California, the mother-son duo finally came across the Baker–Fancher party, a wagon train, who had set up a camp at Mountain Meadows where the real-life massacre took place on 7th September 1857.

The Attack on the Wagon Train

Moments after Sara and Jacob’s arrival, James Wolsey (fictional), an officer of the Nauvoo Legion, a state-authorized Mormon militia,...

It’s not every day that we get a show set in the Old West, and if not for anything else, American Primeval can be watched simply for its production value. The six-episode limited series unfolds in the Utah territory in 1857 and focuses on the year-long Utah War/Mormon Rebellion. While religious and cultural clashes play a significant role in the series, at the core of it, American Primeval is all about revisiting a significant chapter in history to realize the importance of empathy and human connection.

Sara Rowell was traveling with her son, Devin, to Crooks Springs. She had made arrangements to travel to Fort Bridger, where she was supposed to meet a Mr. Beckworth, and with him, she intended to complete her journey to Utah. However, the plan was not simple to execute; she did not arrive on time at the train station, and Mr. Beckworth had already left Fort Bridger.

The Revenant is one of my favorite movies of all time, blending historical fact and fiction with memorable action and characters, with grim realism tying the story together. So I was excited to learn that one of the film's writers, Mark L. Smith, would be teaming up with director Peter Berg (Lone Survivor; Patriots Day) for American Primeval, a Western miniseries on Netflix set during the mid-19th century. The story promised a gritty look at the most lawless part of the United States in 1857, with a premise of intriguing ideas that felt reminiscent of Smith's impressive 2015 drama.

American Primeval is a Netflix limited series that follows the lives of several men and women in the middle of the expansion of the American West. Social dynamics clash as men and women battle for a piece of the new world against rivals and each other.

Release Date January 9, 2025Rating Not Yet RatedGenres Drama,...

The following contains spoilers for American Primeval, now streaming on Netflix.

Netflix's American Primeval is a TV series that lives on gut instinct, depicting a visceral cesspool of pioneering settlers, religious zealots, and Indigenous Americans all fighting for supremacy. Mark L. Smith, who co-wrote Oscar winner The Revenant with Alejandro J. Iñárritu and Michael Punke, is behind this frontier story, which rivals that 2015 movie. Just as The Revenant pulled no punches, American Primeval, set in Utah circa 1857, takes an equally brutal approach to depicting the harsh realities of frontier life.

The show's world is defined by powerful personalities and public acts of extreme violence. Taylor Kitsch inhabits the grizzled figure of Isaac Reed, swathed in animal hide and concealed beneath facial hair. He's a man of few words who is forced into the company of Betty Gilpin's Sarah Rowell and her son Devin. Their rescue from and survival of...

Peter Berg’s relationship with serious historical retellings and silly, goofy action flicks has been kind of dicey. Initially, Lone Survivor was lauded by critics, and it was a hit at the box office, but eventually, the film found itself in the middle of a controversy regarding its heavy distortion of facts. The Kingdom got mixed reviews, was lambasted for being factually inaccurate, and it was a box-office bomb. Deepwater Horizon and Patriots Day were lauded by almost everyone, but they failed to recover their production cost. So, that makes Friday Night Lights the only entry in Peter Berg’s personal brand of historical fiction which was a hit amongst both critics and theatergoers. As for the other half of Berg’s filmography, well, Hancock seems to be the only enjoyable film, because the rest are just unwatchable. Berg’s small-screen ventures have ranged between awful and passable, with his...

“There is only brutality here.”

This is a line from a letter that a U.S. Army captain, played by Lucas Neff, writes to his loved ones back home, midway through the new Netflix miniseries American Primeval. It’s an unfortunately apt statement, albeit not a surprising one if you know that the show was created by The Revenant screenwriter Mark L. Smith. Smith has written a wallow that repeatedly mistakes suffering for profundity, and seems to take more pleasure out of finding nasty ways to kill characters than it does...

When American Primeval begins, the writing is on the wall. Every character we meet at Fort Bridger is facing an existential crisis, before they decide which path to take on their travels across the 1857 American frontier. “Their worlds are coming to an end,” director and executive producer Pete Berg tells Tudum.

Brigham Young’s (Kim Coates) Mormons are seeking to make a safe haven in Utah, even if bloodshed is required to create their utopia. The Shoshone Tribe led by Winter Bird (Irene Bedard) want to maintain their culture and community. Sara Rowell (Betty Gilpin) and Isaac Reed (Taylor Kitsch) are on the run from their past demons. And Jim Bridger (Shea Whigham), well, he knows the end of an era when he sees one. He cuts his losses, sells his fort to Brigham Young, and moves on to greener pastures. “Bridger’s exit strategy was more effective than almost...

Now that Yellowstone has come to an end, networks and streaming services are looking to satiate people's appetites for more Western content, be it something set in the present day, or something from the historical record. Netflix is first up with its new limited series American Primeval, which examines the fight to gain control of the American West and the sometimes violent clash between religion and culture. Don't call it a Western though; according to star Kim Coates, it's so much more than that.

MovieWeb caught up with Coates to discuss American Primeval, in which he plays Brigham Young, who was the second president of the Lds church following the death of Joseph Smith in 1844, and was appointed the first Governor of Utah Territory in 1851. American Primeval fast-forwards a few years to 1857, when Young is firmly established in his role, and for Coates, he doesn't see the series as a Western,...

The series feels like a spiritual successor to Kevin Costner’s ‘Horizon’ saga, and we’ll give you all the details you need here.

Those aching for a return to simpler times can get a vivid portrait of what those times were actually like in the upcoming Netflix series “American Primeval.” The show will offer a gritty, dramatized but realistic portrayal of the American West in 1857, when it was still mostly inhabited by Native Americans, as well as some of the largest mammals on the planet. It was a place of danger and opportunity, and we’ll let you know everything you need to know about the show before you dive in.

Everything you need to know about ‘American Primeval’

Is there a trailer for ‘American Primeval’?

When does ‘American Primeval’ come out?

What is ‘American Primeval’ about?

Who stars in ‘American Primeval’?

Will ‘American Primeval’ be available on all Netflix tiers?...

Now that Yellowstone has (allegedly) ended, many will try to replicate its success, but one Netflix series isn't trying to be exactly like Taylor Sheridan's TV show, which is good for those tired of his franchise. The Paramount Network neo-Western drama was supposed to end following its fifth season finale. However, some confusion remains concerning Yellowstone's future. Whatever the case, Sheridan has a Beth and Rip spinoff and a few other Yellowstone spinoffs in the works, but Netflix has a replacement series ready to go in early 2025.

Taylor Sheridan's upcoming Yellowstone TV shows include 1923 season 2, the untitled Beth and Rip sequel series, The Madison, 6666, and 1944.

Unfortunately, Yellowstone season 5 wasn't met with the best reviews from critics and audiences alike. Following Kevin Costner's exit, that was to be expected. However, many were unhappy with the show's ending and have expressed how its quality rapidly declined during the last episodes.

Everything we know about American Primeval (Photo Credit – Instagram)

American Primeval is all about raw survival, gruesome violence, and a fight for power in a lawless world. Netflix is bringing the heat on January 9, with a series that will make The Revenant look like a walk in the park.

The trailer? Yeah, it’s already setting the tone. Blood is spilled, bodies hit the dirt, and the stakes are nothing short of deadly. Directed by Friday Night Lights’ Pete Berg and written by The Revenant’s Mark L. Smith, this six-episode series takes viewers to 1857, where America is still a mess of violence, fear, and chaos. It’s got all the intensity you’d expect from the guys who brought you Lone Survivor and Painkiller, but with way more grit.

So, what’s the story? Think harsh, brutal, and dark. American Primeval is a fictionalized dive into the bloody birth of the American West.

Neo-Western fans get a glimpse at the extent of American Primeval's shocking brutality ahead of its Netflix premiere.

The full trailer for Netflix's upcoming grim and gritty neo-Western was posted to YouTube, giving audiences an extended look at all the death and destruction American Primeval is bringing to the platform. Helmed by Friday Night Lights director Peter Berg and written by The Revenant's Mark L. Smith, American Primeval is set to make its debut on January 9.

Related Ishana Night Shyamalan's Polarizing Directorial Debut Horror Film Arrives on Netflix

One of 2024's most divisive horror films quietly makes a new streaming home for itself on Netflix - but only for a limited time.

Featuring an ensemble cast led by Friday Night Lights' Taylor Kitsch, Glow's Betty Gilpin, and Perry Mason's Shea Whigham, American Primeval is set to offer a dour look into life exploring the ever-expanding...

Netflix has revealed a new, mature-rated trailer for its American Primeval series, a Western premiering on January 9, 2025. All six one-hour episodes will be available at launch.

The series comes from director/executive producer Pete Berg (Friday Night Lights), writer/creator/executive producer Mark L. Smith (The Revenant), and executive producers Eric Newman (Griselda) and Alex Gayner.

This is America…1857. Up is down, pain is everywhere, and 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 is no safe haven in these brutal lands; 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 to keep or control this land.

The series stars Taylor Kitsch (Isaac), Betty Gilpin (Sara Rowell), Dane DeHaan (Jacob Pratt), Saura Lightfoot-Leon...

Netflix has debuted the new trailer for the upcoming series American Primeval!

The western limited series stars Taylor Kitsch and Betty Gilpin in leading roles as Isaac and Sara Rowell, respectively, and it’s set to premiere on the streamer in the beginning of the new year.

Keep reading to find out more…

Here’s a synopsis: 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 is no safe haven in these brutal 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 to keep or control this land.

Also starring in the upcoming series are Dane DeHaan (Jacob Pratt), Saura Lightfoot-Leon (Abish...

In the new year, we’re going back to the Old West with “American Primeval,” a Western survival thriller from director Peter Berg (“Friday Night Lights”), writer Mark L. Smith (“The Revenant”), and showrunner Eric Newman (“Narcos”). Netflix released a trailer for the limited series on Thursday.

The series follows people trying to survive on the frontier in 1857. “If these Natives here don’t murder you, you got the Wasatch Mountain Range, grizzlies, wolves, and riled-up Mormons,” mountain man Jim Bridger (Shea Whigham) warns in the trailer. The show’s official description puts the conflict in extremely dramatic terms: “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 is no safe haven in these brutal lands, and only one goal matters: survival. ‘American Primeval’ is a fictionalized...

Mark L. Smith and Director Peter Berg bring us a new look at the early struggles in the American landscape. American Primeval is a six-episode series that stars Taylor Kitsch (Isaac), Betty Gilpin (Sara Rowell), Dane DeHaan (Jacob Pratt), Saura Lightfoot-Leon (Abish Pratt), Derek Hinkey (Red Feather), Joe Tippett (James Wolsey), Jai Courtney (Virgil Cutter), Preston Mota (Devin Rowell), Shawnee Pourier (Two Moons), and Shea Whigham (Jim Bridger). Netflix has just released the trailer for the historical drama.

The official synopsis from Netflix reads,

“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 is no safe haven in these brutal lands, and only one goal matters: survival. American Primeval is a fictionalized dramatization and examination of the violent collision of culture, religion, and community...

Netflix has revealed the official trailer and key art for American Primeval, which is a Western television series premiering on January 9, 2025. All six one-hour episodes will be available at launch.

The series comes from director/executive producer Pete Berg (Friday Night Lights), writer/creator/executive producer Mark L. Smith (The Revenant), and executive producers Eric Newman (Griselda) and Alex Gayner.

This is America…1857. Up is down, pain is everywhere, and 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 is no safe haven in these brutal 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 to keep or control this land.

The series stars Taylor Kitsch (Isaac), Betty Gilpin (Sara Rowell...