The American West of the 1850s is often romanticized in film and television, depicted as a frontier full of ambitious pioneers settling in rugged boomtowns. However, the true history is far more intricate and violent. Emmy Award-nominated director Pete Berg aims to shed light on this complex period with his limited series American Primeval, starring Betty Gilpin and Taylor Kitsch.
Berg was inspired to create the series after reading about the Mountain Meadows Massacre, a dark chapter in history where a group of Mormons clashed with pioneers from Arkansas, resulting in brutal violence. The massacre was part of the Utah War, a 1857 conflict between the United States government and the Mormon community, which feared that federal authorities would attempt to limit their religious freedoms.
“This is a really rough and nuanced story,” Berg explained, referring to the events surrounding the massacre. “It includes themes of deception, violence, and the Mormon militia disguising themselves as Native American tribes to mislead their enemies.” This event, along with the tense relationship between the Mormons and the U.S. government, offers a deep, cinematic opportunity for storytelling.
To bring this historical event to the screen, Berg recruited The Revenant screenwriter Mark L. Smith, whose expertise in both creating period pieces and generating intense, emotional tension fit the director’s vision perfectly. “Mark had the kind of sensibility I needed to create a gripping, adrenaline-charged narrative, making it both educational and emotionally engaging,” Berg remarked.
In addition to crafting a captivating story, Berg worked with cultural consultants to ensure the portrayal of the time period and its peoples was authentic. However, the main narrative focuses on the fictional journey of Sara (Gilpin) and her son Devin (Preston Mota), who are traveling across the dangerous frontier to reach Devin’s father in Utah. Along the way, they hire Isaac (Kitsch), a white man raised by the Shoshone, as their guide. The group also discovers a stowaway, Two Moons (Shawnee Pourier), a Shoshone teen who, like Sara, is fleeing a troubled past. Together, they traverse a perilous and contested landscape, encountering everything from bandits to harsh weather conditions.
For Gilpin, the role presented an exhilarating challenge, particularly because of the physical demands, which included horseback riding and performing stunts in historical costumes. “I’m used to controlled soundstage environments, and this was much more raw,” said Gilpin. “Filming in New Mexico, one minute the weather looked like Palm Springs, and the next it felt like we were in a hurricane. But Pete was always flexible and collaborative, making it feel like an acting school experience where you had to think quickly and adapt.”
Berg had long admired Gilpin’s performances, particularly her roles in GLOW and Mrs. Davis, and saw her as the ideal actress for Sara’s role. “She’s incredibly believable and brings a level of complexity to the character,” Berg said. Gilpin dove deep into Sara’s backstory, researching the rigid societal expectations of upper-class New England women before immersing herself in the violent and unpredictable world of the American frontier. “Playing Sara was about embracing a more primal version of herself that she had to suppress in her past life,” she reflected.
To portray Isaac, the Shoshone-raised guide, Berg turned to Kitsch, a frequent collaborator since their time working together on Friday Night Lights. Kitsch, who earned critical acclaim for his role in Berg’s Painkiller, felt an immediate connection to the character. “Isaac is tragically beautiful,” Kitsch remarked. “He’s shaped by the Shoshone from a young age, and playing him was one of the most transformative experiences of my career.” Kitsch worked extensively with cultural consultants to ensure his portrayal of Isaac was as authentic as possible, especially with the character’s use of the Shoshone language.
Throughout American Primeval, the characters must navigate their relationships with Native communities, settlers, Mormons, and outlaws. At the heart of the story, however, is Sara’s deep devotion to her son. “Even though Sara’s story is set in 1857, her dedication to her child is something I can relate to as a parent,” Gilpin said. “It’s about protecting your child at all costs, which transcends time.”
American Primeval promises to offer a unique take on the Wild West, blending historical events with intimate personal stories of survival. Kitsch highlights the series’ emotional depth, particularly in the evolving relationships between the characters. “It’s interesting to watch how a transactional relationship becomes deeply emotional and transformative,” he said. “At its core, it’s about the formation of a family in the harshest of environments.”
The series is a raw, intense exploration of a pivotal moment in American history, shedding light on the complexities and struggles of life on the frontier.
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