How Historically Accurate Is American Primeval?

 February 5, 2025

   We are picking up some major energy around the global hit American Primeval and everyone has the same question: how much of the events portrayed are actually true? 

   We had planned on doing a review by Henry of the show in our Feb-March issue and call it a day, but as the raves and the questions continued—and mounted—we shifted gears and are now going to feature the true history behind the hit show in the following issue of True West magazine (that would be the April-May issue). We have joined forces with our film editor, Henry Parke, who has interviewed most of the creative team and actors and now Henry knows even more of the fascinating back story and about how the story came to be. On the history side, our esteemed editors, Paul Andrew Hutton, Mark Boardman, James B. Mills and Jerry Enzler, who wrote the best selling biography on Jim Bridger, will contrast and compare notes to help us fill out the back story, point by point, blow by blow.

   Here is how a certain number one son puts it:

"I have not watched such an incredible narrative western such as this for a long time. Lawless lands ruled by many separate groups, military, cultural, religious, and those out for personal gain even if that means murder. Overall, an incredible series which I am sure will continue to impress." 

—Jeb Alan Rosebrook, Prescott, Arizona (key point, Jeb is a millennial!)

   Ironically, it was Jeb's father, Stuart, who told all of us in the history biz, we have to figure out how to get people under the age of 70 in the door. Well, it appears American Primeval has opened that door. And how!

"Savage is back. It's all gray skies, dirty snow and bearded men, caked in mud and blood."

—Kelly Lawler, USA Today