Lawmen: Bass Reeves – A New Chapter in the Yellowstone Franchise

Lawmen: Bass Reeves is the fourth series that Taylor Sheridan has created. It is a spinoff of the successful Yellowstone franchise and adds another installment to the genre. Lawmen: Bass Reeves is a television series that chronicles the life of the first Black Deputy United States Marshal to serve in a position located west of the Mississippi River. The name of the series is derived from an actual historical figure. Lawmen: Bass Reeves intends to convey the real-life history of one of the fascinating characters who lived during the time period depicted in the Old West. This is a departure from the other films in the Yellowstone franchise, which focus on fictional adventures. Lawmen: Bass Reeves ushers in a completely new path for Sheridan’s Western universe, and it does so in a way that appears to leave the Montana Dutton clan in the dust.

The Origins of the Yellowstone Franchise

The first season of the original Yellowstone series debuted in 2018, and it told a gritty story about the challenges of ranching in the 21st century. The Old West inspired the series but was set in current times. The series starring Kevin Costner was so successful that it inevitably spawned many spinoffs, including the prequel series 1883 and 1923, which continued the story from where Yellowstone left off. The whole Yellowstone history has been composed of characters from the made-up Dutton family up until this point. Still, Lawmen: Bass Reeves represents the first opportunity for the franchise to think creatively outside the box. The new series can capture many of the same themes as its predecessors while painting a more accurate picture of the West at the same time.

Lawmen: Bass Reeves Cast

• Dennis Quaid as Sherrill Lynn

• David Oyelowo as Bass Reeves

• Christopher Corson as Bass Reeves Prisoner

• Eric Schmidt as Prison Guard

• David J Burt as U.S. Marshal

• Bill Dawes as Joshua

• Heather Kafka as Florence Hammersley

• Russell C. Gibbs as Hotel Clerk

• Janae Jacobs as Churchgoer Kid

• Rain C. Wilson as Young Benny Reeves

• Riley Looc as Curtis Jumper

• LonHendre Keggins as Prisoner

• Kenneisha Thompson as Dora

• Van Quattro as Hagan

• Dean Hermansen as Brent

• Shea Whigham as George Reeves

• Forrest Goodluck as Billy Crow

• Chris Silcox as Connor

Release Date of Lawmen: Bass Reeves

The date when The Lawmen: Bass Reeves will be available for purchase has yet to be disclosed. On the other hand, it is now established that the show will premiere on Paramount+ in 2023. The second season of 1923 and the fifth and final half of Yellowstone’s fifth season have both been delayed due to the ongoing effects of the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes on Hollywood projects. As a result, given that the first episode of Lawmen: Bass Reeves won’t air until 2023, fans won’t be able to watch any more Yellowstone episodes for quite some time.

The Creator of Lawmen: Bass Reeves

Chad Feehan was born in Houston, Texas, in the United States of America, on October 31st, 1978. He is most recognized for his work as a writer and producer on the television shows Lawmen: Bass Reeves (2023), Ray Donovan (2013), and Banshee (2013).

The Plot of Lawmen: Bass Reeves

An important person from history, Bass Reeves was the first African American to serve as deputy US marshal west of the Mississippi River. Due to the extraordinary number of times that Reeves was apprehended, some historians believe that he may have been the model for the fictional character of the Lone Ranger. Even though this is a point of contention, there is little question about what a great figure Reeves was. In the year 1838, he was born into slavery. When the Civil War broke out, the man who was keeping him as a slave, George Reeves, joined the Confederacy. As a result, Bass was compelled to enlist as well. Bass managed to evade capture and eventually lived in what was then known as Indian Territory among members of the Seminole, Cherokee, and Creek tribes. Bass Reeves was named a deputy marshal shortly after the legal abolition of slavery. This was in part owing to his acquaintance with Indian Territory and the many languages that were spoken there.

Given that the show was originally going to be 1883: The Bass Reeves Story, it is still being determined how much of Bass Reeves’ early life will be portrayed in the series. This decision is still being made. However, once Reeves became a marshal, his life took an unexpected turn for the more fascinating. During the time that Reeves worked as a deputy marshal under the supervision of Judge Parker and Marshal Fagan, he apprehended more than 3000 criminals. He was even forced to place his son under custody for the commission of a murder.

When Oyelowo was doing press at an event for Paramount+ in the UK at the beginning of 2022, he disclosed several significant story points about the series, including:

The character “So Bass Reeves” from “The Lone Ranger” was inspired by real-life outlaw “So Bass Reeves.” But, sadly, his contributions were omitted from the historical record. He was born into slavery, went on to fight in the Civil War, and then escaped to the Indian Territory, where he learned the Native American languages and skills. He eventually utilized these abilities and languages in his law profession and had the most successful career of any lawman. 3000 arrests over the course of his career; he is a person whose accomplishments are genuinely famous. The format will be a miniseries consisting of six episodes. That’s a movie that runs for six hours.

[…] Now, back in the day, when you watched “Ben-Hur” or “Lawrence of Arabia,” that was epic storytelling. However, if you put a three-hour [or] four-hour picture in front of people today, [they’re like], “Oh, my gosh!” But if you let them binge on anything that takes six to ten hours, they will participate enthusiastically. Therefore, it’s just a matter of reframing it. There may be a mental leap that individuals have to make to remain engaged with the narrative for a little bit longer.