American Primeval Season 2 Update Risks Making A Mistake With Netflix's Epic Western
WARNING: SPOILERS ahead for American Primeval.
Netflix's epic period Western series American Primeval might be making a mistake in potentially releasing a second season. American Primeval was written by Mark L. Smith, who co-wrote the screenplay for The Revenant with Alejandro G. Iñárritu. Peter Berg (Friday Night Lights, Lone Survivor) directs all six episodes of American Primeval. Taylor Kitsch leads an ensemble cast as Isaac Reed, which features Betty Gilpin, Dane DeHaan, Saura Lightfoot-Leon, Shea Whigham, Lucas Neff, and Kim Coates as Brigham Young. In addition to Young, American Primeval alters several real-life historical details and figures.
American Primeval uniquely blends brutal and violent elements of the horror genre with the classic Western. Despite its 59% Rotten Tomatoes score, it earned an 86% audience score and has been in Netflix's Top 10 TV Shows in the United States since it was released on January 9, 2025. Kitsch previously starred in the Peter Berg film Lone Survivor alongside Mark Wahlberg and Berg's classic television series Friday Night Lights. American Primeval was released as a miniseries but there has been speculation about the potential for a second season.
Is American Primeval Season 2 Happening? What We Know
Berg leaves the door open but Netflix has not confirmed
Director and executive producer Peter Berg recently shared his thoughts about the prospect of American Primeval season 2. Berg shared, "You know, after we wrapped, and I looked at all the actors — the ones that were still alive — I felt such affection for them. And I do think there are many ways that we could go. I’ve still got to thaw out from my time spent up on those mountains in the winter, but maybe if they got to lower ground, that wasn’t quite as cold, we could. We could go back." Berg is leaving the door open but Netflix has yet to confirm season 2.
If there were to be an American Primeval season 2, it would have to find a new lead actor following the sacrificial death of Kitsch's Isaac Reed, who saved Sara, Devin, and Two Moons in the American Primeval finale. Sara could face all sorts of new threats and encounters on her way to California. The main conflict would likely chronicle the Utah War of 1857 and the fall of Brigham Young as Utah's governor. American Primeval season 2 could feature more battles of that conflict but would be missing the leading-man efforts of Kitsch.
Why American Primeval Season 2 Would Be A Mistake
It would be missing several of its most compelling characters
American Primeval season 2 would have to quickly fill in the gap left by Isaac Reed's death. Since the series killed off its best main character and the journey of Sara is really at an end in terms of what would be interesting to watch, American Primeval season 2 faces an upward battle in its plot. While there are more true story elements to explore in a potential American Primeval season 2, it will already lack several characters – including the tragic Pratt and Abish – that audiences were most emotionally invested in.
American Primeval
- Release Date
- 2025 - 2025-00-00
- Network
- Netflix
- Directors
- Peter Berg
- Writers
- Peter Berg, Eric Newman, Mark L. Smith
Cast
Taylor KitschIsaac
Jai CourtneySara Rowell
American Primeval is a Netflix limited series that follows the lives of several men and women in the middle of the expansion of the American West. Social dynamics clash as men and women battle for a piece of the new world against rivals and each other.
- Creator(s)
- Peter Berg, Eric Newman, Mark L. Smith
- Producers
- Eric Newman, Mark L. Smith
- Seasons
- 1
- Where To Watch
- Netflix
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