The date is set for when Lena Headey and Gillian Anderson will make their way to the Old West for Netflix‘s The Abandons. The streaming service released the first images from the sprawling Western series, showing off the Game of Thrones and X-Files stars as stunning matriarchs of very different warring families trying to tame the frontier. Living on the fringes of society at a time of expansion, they’re just two forces among a diverse swathe of renegade families clashing or, ultimately, banding together to survive, though their feud is particularly complicated, filled with blood, secrets, and, perhaps, a bit of love. Along with the images came confirmation that the series will premiere on the platform on December 4.
Shot in Calgary, The Abandons takes place in Washington Territory in 1854, where Fiona Nolan (Headey), Constance Van Ness (Anderson), and their respective families find their fates intertwined in more ways than one. One leads a found family of orphans and outcasts leaning on each other to survive, while the other is the head of a wealthy and privileged clan, yet both stake their claim over a piece of land rich with silver. Between two crimes, a crushing secret, and a star-crossed romance, however, their bitter feud is complicated by the many ties that bind. What follows is a war between the haves and have-nots, set in a place justice has not yet reached. The murder, revenge, illicit romance, and more are all seen through the eyes of the two widows, who both have different understandings of what makes a family and are desperate to ensure theirs survives by any means.
While Headey and Anderson are the draw, the images also shine a light on the other stars making their way in the West. Among those featured is X-Men alum Lucas Till, appearing as a well-off gentleman standing in the middle of town, as well as Nick Robinson and Ryan Hurst, who both have the look of rugged prospectors. They’re just a small part of the expansive cast, rounded out by Diana Silvers, Lamar Johnson, Natalia del Riego, Aisling Franciosi, Toby Hemingway, Michael Greyeyes, Katelyn Wells, Clayton Cardenas, Elle-Maija Tailfeathers, Brían F. O’Byrne, Marc Menchaca, Patton Oswalt, Michael Ornstein, Jonathan Koensgen, Jack Doolan, Michiel Huisman, Haig Sutherland, and Sarah White.
‘The Abandons’ Endured a Bumpy Road to the West
Netflix has been attached to The Abandons for some time, originally ordering the series back in 2022. Sons of Anarchy creator Kurt Sutter conceived of the Western drama and was also attached as executive producer and showrunner. However, during filming, Sutter left the project last October amid disputes with the streamer over the length of the pilot and budget cuts that saw the series trimmed from ten one-hour episodes to eight. Fellow executive producer and director Otto Bathurst oversaw the rest of the production alongside co-executive producer Rob Askins. The pair were part of the remaining creative team who helped bring everything over the finish line, joined by executive producers Chris Keyser, Stephen Surjik, Emmy Grinwis, and Jon Paré.
The Abandons moseys onto Netflix on December 4. Check out the first images in the gallery above.
via Collider