Lawman: Bass Reeves, the latest series in Yellowstone creator Taylor Sheridan‘s stable, tells an untold story that has been years in the making.
The Paramount+ anthology series, developed for TV by showrunner Chad Feehan, deep dives into the life story of legendary lawman Bass Reeves, played by David Oyelowo in the series, to chart his rise from enslavement to law enforcement as one of the first Black U.S. Deputy Marshals west of the Mississippi.
Oyelowo recently told The Hollywood Reporter that when he and Sheridan first pitched the series in 2015, the project was initially turned down. In 2017, they were told it wouldn’t work because everyone was doing Westerns. It wasn’t until the huge success of Sheridan’s other Western series that the onscreen story of Bass Reeves became a reality.
“You know, if he was white there would be monuments, there would be multiple movies, there would be graphic novels, everyone would be dressed up as him for Halloween. We know why it hasn’t been the case, and so rectifying that and telling his story as best as I could genuinely has been a seven- to eight-year [journey],” said Oyelowo of the larger-than-life historical figure at the center of the series.
The first episodes of Lawman: Bass Reeves show Bass’ escape from enslavement, and how he goes on to be taken in by Native American nations. A lot of research had to go into that to hopefully be showing that in a different light than we’ve seen them,” says Oyelowo, speaking in a video exclusive to The Hollywood Reporter, of Bass living with the Choctaw and Creek cultures. Feehan adds, “It was important for us to really explore the authentic human condition for every race and creed in the show.”
In order to set the story for Lawman: Bass Reeves, which takes place in 1880s Arkansas, the creative team again brought on Mo Brings Plenty as the Indian Affairs Coordinator to not only ensure that the series portrays Native American culture authentically and accurately, but also to redefine what many people think of Native Americans during this time. Brings Plenty, who also has an acting role in Lawman: Bass Reeves, has served in a similar capacity on other series in the Yellowstone franchise (he also co-stars in the Paramount Network flagship series).
In the Lawman: Bass Reeves, Brings Plenty plays Minco Dodge, a part of the Lighthorsemen,
