David Oyelowo stars as the legendary U.S. Marshal in the Parmount+ series set for a fall premiere.
Paramount+ released on Wednesday first-look photos and a teaser trailer for Lawmen: Bass Reeves, the eagerly awaited Western series set for a fall premiere on the streaming platform. And to paraphrase Leonardo Di Caprio’s much-quoted line from Django Unchained — Paramount, you already had our curiosity… but now you have our attention. Especially when the title character proclaims in the trailer: “Your wicked ways are done.”
David Oyelowo (Selma, A Most Violent Year) stars as Reeves, the legendary ex-slave who became the first Black deputy marshal to work west of the Mississippi River. Many historians and other observers — including Bill O’Reilly, in his 2015 Legends and Lies TV series — have claimed he likely was the real-life model for the masked hero who used to hang out with Tonto. Indeed, it has been widely noted that Reeves — who was credited with capturing more than 3,000 outlaws while working during the post-Reconstruction era as a federal peace officer in the Indian Territory — often gave out silver coins (not bullets) as his version of a calling card. His steed of choice was a white stallion. And very much like The Lone Ranger, Reeves was known to be a straight shooter and a fair fighter. Although he killed at least 14 men during gun battles, he steadfastly maintained he never shot a man when it was not necessary for him to do so to save his own life.

Oyelowo also serves with Yellowstone multitasker Taylor Sheridan as executive producer of the series, which co-stars, among others, Dennis Quaid, Mo Brings Plenty, Lauren E. Banks, Demi Singleton, Forrest Goodluck, Barry Pepper, and Donald Sutherland. The eight-episode season is produced by MTV Entertainment Studios, 101 Studios, Sheridan’s Bosque Ranch Productions, and Oyelowo’s Yoruba Saxon.
According to Paramount+, Lawmen: Bass Reeves is intended as an anthology series, with future iterations following other iconic lawmen and outlaws who have impacted history.

Here is the first teaser trailer for Lawmen: Bass Reeves.
Photography: Kwaku Alston/Paramount+