Lawmen: Bass Reeves is the latest iteration in the Western revival that is happening at Paramount+, where series like Yellowstone, 1883, and 1923 have amassed swaths of viewers thanks to the dramatic vision of Taylor Sheridan. Lawmen: Bass Reeves is more of a stand-alone series in this universe, however, and is only executive produced by Sheridan; it is more the vision of Chad Feehan, who shines a light on one of the Wild West’s most significant personalities. The series premiered Nov. 5, and the third episode airs Nov. 12, but we have an exclusive clip ahead of time, which you can watch above. It’s the moment that Bass becomes a Deputy Marshal.
The official synopsis of Lawmen: Bass Reeves reads as follows:
“Revealing the untold story of the most legendary lawman in the Old West, Lawmen: Bass Reeves follows the journey of Reeves (Oyelowo) and his rise from enslavement to law enforcement as one of the first Black U.S. Deputy Marshals west of the Mississippi. Despite arresting over 3,000 outlaws during the course of his career, the weight of the badge was heavy, and he wrestled with its moral and spiritual cost to his beloved family. Lawmen: Bass Reeves is an all-new, standalone anthology series and future iterations will follow other iconic lawmen and outlaws who have impacted history.”
The anthology series stars executive producer and Emmy nominee David Oyelowo, Lauren E. Banks, Demi Singleton, Forrest Goodluck, Emmy Award winner Barry Pepper, Honorary Oscar recipient Donald Sutherland, and Emmy Award nominee Dennis Quaid. The cast includes Shea Whigham, and Garrett Hedlund as guest stars, and, in recurring roles, Joaquina Kalukango, Lonnie Chavis, Grantham Coleman, Tosin Morohunfola, Dale Dickey, Rob Morgan, Ryan O’Nan, Margot Bingham, Mo Brings Plenty, Justin Hurtt-Dunkley, and Bill Dawes.
David Oyelowo Is Praised as Bass Reeves
Oyelowo’s performance as Bass Reeves, from slave to Marshal, has generated a great deal of acclaim, and not just from the critics. Lawmen: Bass Reeves creator Chad Feehan praised Oyelowo in our interview with Feehan:
“He’s the most dedicated craftsman I’ve ever been around. His commitment to his craft is astounding. His talent, I believe, is transcendent. And that can only be overshadowed by his persona. He is graceful and compassionate, and passionate. So it’s the highlight of my career to this point, to find myself working with somebody that is that gifted in one breath, but also that giving in another. So I feel incredibly fortunate to have been a part of it and worked with him.”
Meanwhile, one of the series’ directors, Damien Marcado, had this to say about Oyelowow:
David really impressed me with his readiness for this. This was beyond just the actor knowing lines and knowing how to deliver them. This was an actor knowing lines, how to deliver them while riding or galloping on a horse at full speed, and shooting a rifle. I could go on and list so many, but this was really a cut above the rest.
And if you don’t have Paramount+, you’re in luck — CBS will air a special sampling of the show on Sunday Nov. 12, following an episode of Yellowstone, which they also began airing.
Created for television by executive producer and showrunner Chad Feehan, Lawmen: Bass Reeves also is executive produced by Oscar nominee Taylor Sheridan, David Oyelowo, David C. Glasser, Jessica Oyelowo, David Permut, Christina Alexandra Voros, Ron Burkle, Bob Yari, and David Hutkin. The series is produced by MTV Entertainment Studios, 101 Studios, Sheridan’s Bosque Ranch Productions and Oyelowo’s Yoruba Saxon and is distributed by Paramount Global Content Distribution outside of Paramount+ international markets. You can watch a trailer below:
