“Lawmen: Bass Reeves” has become Paramount+’s most-watched series premiere globally for 2023. Produced by Taylor Sheridan, the show features David Oyelowo as Bass Reeves, the first Black U.S. Marshal west of the Mississippi.
The series, exploring Reeves’ journey from enslavement to becoming a legendary lawman, has garnered 7.5 million viewers globally within the first week on Paramount+ and CBS. This surpasses the live + same-day viewership on CBS, which was 3.55 million. The success mirrors other Paramount+ premieres this year, such as “Special Ops: Lioness.”
“Lawmen: Bass Reeves” narrates the remarkable journey of Bass Reeves (Oyelowo), who rose from enslavement to become the first Black U.S. Marshal west of the Mississippi. Over the course of his career, Reeves arrested more than 3,000 outlaws. However, the burden of his badge weighed heavily on him, and he grappled with the moral and spiritual toll it took on his beloved family.
Lauren E. Banks, Demi Singleton, Forrest Goodluck, Barry Pepper, Donald Sutherland, and Dennis Quaid also star. in the series.
David Oyelowo, executive producer and star, highlighted the global impact of the series, stating, “Our goal at Yoruba Saxon is simple, to normalize the marginalized for a global audience. The international embrace of Lawmen: Bass Reeves shows that borders are no boundary to a fresh perspective on a great story.”
Guest stars in the series include Shea Whigham and Garrett Hedlund, while recurring roles feature Joaquina Kalukango, Lonnie Chavis, Grantham Coleman, Tosin Morohunfola, Dale Dickey, Rob Morgan, Ryan O’Nan, Margot Bingham, Mo Brings Plenty, Justin Hurtt-Dunkley, and Bill Dawes.
“Lawman: Bass Reeves” is an anthology series, and future seasons will explore other iconic lawmen and outlaws. The remaining six episodes are releasing weekly on Paramount+, with the finale scheduled for December 17.