Cowboy Casting Criteria in American Primeval and Yellowstone

Cowboy Casting Criteria in American Primeval and Yellowstone

While Netflix’s American Primeval and Taylor Sheridan’s Yellowstone present vastly different narratives within the Western genre, they share an important preparatory experience for their casts. Both shows require actors to undergo rigorous training to adapt to the unique demands of portraying life in the Wild West.

Viewers familiar with the rugged landscapes and intense action sequences of Yellowstone or the brutal depiction in American Primeval recognize that these productions involve far more than just acting. The roles often require navigating gunfights, executing stunts, and enduring the elements—all while skillfully managing horseback riding.

Shared Training: Cowboy Camp

One of the key components that unite the cast members of both shows is their participation in what’s informally dubbed “cowboy camp.” This essential training regimen has become integral to Yellowstone, reflecting the show’s commitment to authenticity.

Similarly, American Primeval, which premiered on January 9, 2023, embraced this training approach, facilitating a month-long session in Santa Fe. Here, the cast learned to build a rapport with their horses, even mastering the art of riding through challenging conditions, such as three feet of snow.

American Primeval: Issac rides on a horse
Netflix

Director Peter Berg emphasized the importance of physical readiness before filming commenced. In discussions with the cast, he posed critical questions regarding their physical fitness and readiness for the roles, inquiring about their knees, ankles, and backs. Unfortunately, despite the thorough preparation, some injuries occurred, with Taylor Kitsch, who portrays Isaac, suffering a broken foot just two episodes into the shoot.

Yellowstone maintains a similar training philosophy, adapting its cowboy camp approach over multiple seasons. Cast members from related spinoffs, including 1923 and 1883, also engage in this intensive training.

Luke Grimes, known for his role as Kayce Dutton, shared insights about the cowboy camp experience, stating, “Taylor’s a cowboy himself. He really walks the walk […] He made sure that we were on the horse every day and he sent us to the cowboy camp.” This highlights Sheridan’s dedication to immersing his actors in authentic cowboy culture.

Sheridan himself has previously articulated his philosophy, indicating, “I don’t rehearse with my actors. There’s no way to inform them what this way of life is; you just have to do it. I just take them out and put them to work.” This hands-on approach ensures the actors can genuinely embody their roles throughout the filming process.

All six episodes of American Primeval are currently available for streaming on Netflix. Meanwhile, fans of Yellowstone can stay tuned for information about upcoming spinoffs, including 6666 and The Madison.

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