In today’s episode of Bingeworthy, our TV and streaming podcast host Mike DeAngelo saddles up to discuss Paramount+’s latest Taylor Sheridan-produced series, “Lawmen: Bass Reeves.” The show follows Bass Reeves (David Oyelowo) on his journey from a Civil War-era enslaved person and forced Confederate soldier to the first Black U.S. Marshal in history and one of the greatest frontier heroes ever. The show also stars Dennis Quaid, Donald Sutherland, Barry Pepper, Lauren E. Banks, and more.
Joining Bingeworthy to discuss the eight-episode series is showrunner Chad Feehan (Ray Donovan, Rectify, Banshee). During the chat, Feehan talks about his journey to being hand-picked by Bass Reeves himself, David Oyelowo (“Selma,” “Silo,” “The Water Man”), to helm the show.
“Growing up in Texas, I heard stories about Bass [Reeves] as a child. There were always these stories about this mythic lawman,” Feehan explained. “And then a year and a half ago, two years ago, David Oyelowo invited me to dinner. I’d never met him. I’m a big fan of his work, and we immediately developed a bond and a friendship. And what really drew me in was him explaining to me where the myth of the man both converged with and separated from reality. And I went home and did an enormous amount of research and became obsessed with the things that I hadn’t heard and the things that I didn’t know. And so that is what really drew me in, both David and the things about Bass I didn’t know, and I felt compelled to be a part of honoring his legacy, no matter how big or small that part was. So, I’m lucky that David felt the same way, and we got to go on this journey together.”
As for his collaboration and feelings about his star, David Oyelowo, Feehan had nothing but glowing words to share about his experience working and bonding with the actor.
“He’s the most graceful human being I’ve ever been around. And that’s not hyperbole,” Feehan said. “He’s deeply, deeply self-aware and has an incredible sense of humanity and the human condition. He’s patient. He’s loving. He was truly a dream collaboration, and I firmly believe that he and I will be friends for the rest of our lives.”
“Lawmen: Bass Reeves” is the latest in a long line of television projects produced by Yellowstone creator Taylor Sheridan, who is known for having a tough time handing over the reins to his showrunners. Feehan had anticipated that experience, as well, but noted that his experience was very different from what has been reported.
“I’ve heard those stories as well, and my experience was very different,” Feehan shared. “I’m incredibly grateful to him for entrusting me with this, for letting me pick up the football and run with it. He was influential, and he had a gift of being able to look at a story and say, ‘Hey, why don’t you try this here?’ and then afforded me the freedom to try it and do it on my own. And so he was a great collaborator, as well. The machine that he’s built allowed us to tackle a massive story and not stumble along the way as much as we would have had it been a whole new group of strangers coming together. So, everybody from his wranglers to his cook to his location people to his G&E department – they’d all worked on the shows before, and they had this shorthand. And so, when we arrived in Texas, it was like greased lightning.”
Many assumed that “Lawmen: Bass Reeves” might be a series that only follows Bass Reeves. In the interview, Feehan describes the real plan, which includes an interesting possibility for an anthology series.
“Truthfully, I don’t know what the future holds,” Feehan said. “The idea behind Lawmen is that future seasons would cover a different Lawman or outlaw from American history. What that looks like in season two, I don’t know. We haven’t engaged in those conversations yet… there is meat left on the bone should this [Bass Reeves] story continue.”
“Lawmen: Bass Reeves” premieres its first two episodes on Sunday, November 5th, only on Paramount+. Listen to the full interview with Chad Feehan below:
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