Shining a spotlight on events immediately preceding the American Civil War,American Primevalexplores the lives and conflicts of several groups of people in Utah, 1857. Taylor Kitsch and Betty Gilpin head up the ensemble cast, but it also features experienced actors like Shea Whigham, Jai Courtney, and Kim Coates.Netflix’s six-part limited series is sure to catch the eye of fans of westerns and period pieces.
Game Rant recently caught up with Kim Coates, who plays the real-life role of the Mormon leader, Brigham Young. He talked aboutAmerican Primeval’s commitment to being as authentic as possibleto the period, going as far as forgoing CGI. He also discussed how the show tackles some difficult themes, and how pleased he was with the entire experience.
American Primeval’s Commitment to Authenticity
CGI typically plays a huge role in entertainment, being used in movies and TV shows to replace sets, animals, or occasionally humans. However, forAmerican Primevalto achieve its aim of being gritty, realistic, and authentic, it was clear thatCGI could play no part. As Coates explained, this decision was made very early on and plays a huge role in the authentic feel of the series. He said,
‘‘For starters, they decided very early that there would be no CGI, no computer stuff at all. No fake rules, no fake weather, nothing. All 100% authentic. But when you do something as real as this, you better be prepared for the elements. You had better be prepared for stuff that’s going to break down. You’re dealing with real things, real weather, real animals. This is why I am so in love with this series because it’s as real as it gets.’’
American Primevaldoesn’t shy away from tough subject matter. People on all sides are driven to acts of violence, often doing what they feel is necessary simply to survive another day.The lines between good and bad are often blurred, and the show’s writing ensures that audiences won’t quite be sure who they should be cheering for. The script was co-written with Mark L. Smith, who previously co-wrote the critically acclaimed movieThe Revenant, which was set in a similar period. Speaking to this subject matter, Coates continued,
‘‘There are some really awful things happening on screen, mainly because of survival. Everyone wanted and needed to survive. Peter didn’t pull any punches, man, none! This script was written with love and care and truths, and I’m not sure anyone’s going to be super happy with the truths that we talk about. But that’s why we learn history. That’s how we learn.’’
In an era where some TV shows and movies arguably play it a little safe, it’s refreshing to seeAmerican Primeval’s unwavering devotion to its source material. The experienced cast, including Coates and the entire cast, along with the direction of Peter Berg, ensure that the show is brought to life with the appropriate amount of passion and style to do its writing justice.
American Primevalstreams on Netflix on Jun 14, 2025.
Netflix
Netflix is one of the most popular and widely viewed streaming services in the world. Beginning with its mail order DVD service, Netflix has since grown into an entertainment juggernaut, with original shows and movies including Squid Game, Stranger Things, The Irishman, and The Killer.
