Before Marshals, Luke Grimes Starred In A Rejected Neo-western Series

CBS

In 2012, FX released a TV movie called "Outlaw Country." It starred Luke Grimes arsenic a Nashville criminal and state vocalist whose uncle wants him to return complete arsenic caput of nan family's organized crime outfit. "Outlaw Country" didn't make overmuch of an impression, but what galore viewers didn't recognize astatine nan clip was that this movie was really made arsenic a aviator that, had it been picked up, would person seen Grimes starring successful a neo-Western agelong earlier "Yellowstone" debuted.

Grimes had been acting for much than a decade earlier he was formed arsenic Kayce Dutton connected "Yellowstone," but nan Dutton scion quickly became his astir recognizable and celebrated role. The Navy SEAL turned rancher pinch a bosom of golden was ever getting caught up successful his family's drama, but stayed nan people and was rewarded pinch 1 of the champion endings for immoderate main characteristic connected "Yellowstone."

When nan Grimes-led spin-off/sequel bid arrived, however, Kayce intelligibly hadn't escaped nan drama. "Marshals" killed disconnected Kayce's wife, Monica Dutton (Kelsey Asbille) successful nan worst measurement possible: pinch an off-screen decease that's hardly explained successful nan aviator episode. That wasn't nan champion commencement to nan caller show but it looks arsenic though Grimes' beleaguered rancher still won't flight nan chaos arsenic "Marshals" has already been green-lit for a 2nd season. Whatever you deliberation of nan show, then, Grimes tin now declare to person starred successful 2 deed neo-Western series. But had his 2012 aviator been picked up, he mightiness good person added a 3rd to his filmography.

FX

There are plentifulness of overlooked gems successful Luke Grimes' filmography, including an underrated crime thriller pinch Frank Grillo. "Outlaw Country" could person go different had it been fixed a chance. The TV movie was really changeable arsenic a aviator for a neo-Western TV Series starring Grimes, John Hawkes, Haley Bennett, and Mary Steenburgen. Much for illustration "Yellowstone," nan show was designed arsenic a crime thriller/family drama, but alternatively than being group connected nan immense plains of Montana, this 1 played retired successful Nashville.

In 2010, Deadline announced that David Manson had been brought connected committee to co-run "Outlaw Country" alongside Josh Goldin and Rachel Abramowitz, who co-wrote nan pilot. Soon after, Grimes was formed connected nan show arsenic Eli Larkin, a characteristic described by Deadline arsenic a "half-cowboy, half-modern feline who tries to get retired of nan crime ridden life he has grown accustomed to." Sounds a batch for illustration Kayce Dutton, doesn't it? Unfortunately, Eli Larkin didn't get a chance to flight anything.

"Sons of Anarchy" executive producers Art Linson and John Linson were already signed connected to executive nutrient "Outlaw Country" astatine nan clip Grimes was cast. That mightiness person been nan first tenuous nexus betwixt nan character and "Yellowstone" creator Taylor Sheridan, who antecedently near "Sons of Anarchy" aft portraying Deputy Chief David Hale connected nan show for 2 seasons. While he would yet springiness Grimes nan domiciled that made him a star, Sheridan had perfectly thing to do pinch "Outlaw Country," which though it shared overmuch successful communal pinch "Yellowstone" didn't spot thing for illustration nan occurrence of that mega-popular neo-Western series.

FX

In 2011, it was reported that "Outlaw Country" had undergone reshoots. Despite nan tweaks, however, conscionable arsenic HBO had passed connected "Sons of Anarchy," FX yet decided not to return nan show to series. Then successful 2012 nan web confirmed nan "Outlaw Country" aviator was being repurposed arsenic an 85-minute FX Original Movie, which was broadcast connected August 24, 2012. As Deadline noted, this was unorthodox arsenic unaired pilots "normally ne'er spot nan ray of day."

When it did air, "Outlaw Country" surely had promise. It followed Luke Grimes' Eli Larkin arsenic he tried to forge a euphony profession and break distant from his family's relationship to organized crime. On his way, he caught nan attraction of Haley Bennett's Annabel Lee, who was charmed by Eli's philharmonic talents. But conscionable arsenic Kayce Dutton struggled to break distant from his ain family's criminal dealings and nan resulting drama, Eli had a difficult clip leaving his criminal past behind. Mary Steenburgen played Anastasia Lee, Anabel's mother and a state vocalist successful her ain correct who has a acheronian past pinch John Hawkes' Tarzen Larkin, nan caput of organized crime successful nan mini municipality from which Eli is trying to escape.

Over connected Letterboxd viewers dubbed nan movie "a transverse betwixt nan TV shows 'Nashville' and 'Justified'." While location are a fewer antagonistic reviews — mostly because nan aviator unsurprisingly doesn't activity each that good arsenic a self-contained movie — plentifulness of users seemed to bask "Outlaw Country," pinch 1 penning "a long-form tv show could person explored absorbing territory only nodded astatine concisely here." Sadly, you're improbable to beryllium capable to dress up your ain mind arsenic "Outlaw Country" isn't disposable to stream, rent, aliases bargain anywhere.