Director Peter Berg didn’t rely on words when he introduced his idea for American Primeval to screenwriter Mark L. Smith, known for The Revenant. Instead, Berg presented an ice axe, asking simply, “Can we do this as a show?” That intense vision evolved into a rugged Netflix miniseries, demanding a grueling 145-day shoot in the mountains of New Mexico, exposing the cast and crew to raw, unforgiving elements. “We wanted to capture the reality of the wild,” Berg said, noting their rejection of green screens and sound stages in favor of real landscapes.
Filming Through Hardship: Real Elements, Real Risks
For authenticity, Berg’s team faced nature head-on, setting up at dawn amid icy conditions and navigating a landscape filled with wild animals. The crew worked in remote areas, often traveling hours to various sites, including Native reservations. Berg made sure his actors could handle the physical demands of the production, asking them about their fitness and readiness for the intense outdoor conditions. The actors were put through “cowboy camp” in snowy terrain, learning to ride horses and shoot and facing injuries, with Taylor Kitsch, one of the leads, breaking his foot early in filming.
Taylor Kitsch’s Journey Into Character
Kitsch, who has collaborated with Berg since Friday Night Lights, embraced the role of Isaac, a man shaped by personal loss and a deep connection to Native culture. “It’s not just an American who’s lost his family,” Kitsch explains, highlighting Isaac’s loyalty to the Shoshone people who raised him. To prepare, Kitsch spent a year immersing himself in the culture, working with a shaman, participating in Native sweats, and learning Shoshone. The actor said this spiritual journey helped him process personal losses, including his father’s passing during filming.
Betty Gilpin’s Grit in American Primeval
Betty Gilpin stars as Sara, a mother navigating the treacherous frontier to protect her son while searching for her husband. Her commitment to Berg’s raw, grounded vision required her to perform intense scenes in restrictive costumes, often on horseback. “Whenever the guys complained, I just reminded them of my corset,” she joked. Gilpin found Kitsch’s dedication inspiring, with his fluency in Shoshone pushing her to elevate her performance. Together, they crafted a dynamic onscreen relationship that is both volatile and deeply emotional.
The Complex Story of the American Frontier
Set in 1857, American Primeval pulls from historical events, centering on the infamous Mountain Meadows Massacre as settlers, Native American nations, and Mormons collide in the brutal American West. The miniseries highlights the tensions between various groups, with Indigenous consultant Julie O’Keefe ensuring authenticity, particularly in the depictions of Shoshone and Paiute characters. O’Keefe emphasized, “We didn’t sugarcoat the violence—it was a harsh reality for everyone in that time.”
Authentic Storytelling, Intense Violence, and Real Stakes
With brutal realism, American Primeval doesn’t shy away from depicting the violent struggles of the period. “We aimed for raw intensity, not stylized drama,” Berg said, underscoring the series’ graphic, in-your-face approach to violence. Smith’s script adds historical nuance, exploring the reasons behind the violence, such as the motivations that led Mormon settlers to Utah and what fueled conflicts with Native communities. For the cast, the series’ demands brought physical hardship but added to the realism; as Kitsch put it, “By day two, you’re freezing and fighting for your life. There’s no acting needed—it’s real.”