WARNING: SPOILERS ahead for American Primeval.
Netflix’s new epic period Western seriesAmerican Primevalis the perfect example of why aRed Dead Redemptionfilm or TV adaptation needs to happen.American Primevalis a new Western streaming seriesthat was released on Netflix on June 04, 2025.The series takes place on the frontier of the American West in 1857, particularly in the somewhat lawless terrain of Utah on the brink ofThe Utah War. The grim, violent, chaotic, and unforgivingAmerican Primevalshows early American settlers, cultists, and indigenous tribes as murderers and survivors in a series of gruesome fights for control of the newly found territory.American Primevalalters several real-life historical detailsand figures.
Red Dead Redemptionis not only one of the best Western-themed video games ever made but is truly one of the greatest video games ever made, period. Developed by Rockstar Games of legendaryGrand Theft Autoacclaim, the first installment ofRed Dead Redemptionwas released in 2010 for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360.Red Dead Redemption 2was developed and released in 2018 for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. Despite its appearance as a sequel to the 2010 installment,Red Dead Redemption2 is actually a prequel that takes place in 1899, twelve years before the events ofRed Dead Redemption.
Both offer epic & gritty survival stories on Old Western terrain
There have long been hopes of aRed Deadfilm or television adaptation since the success and acclaim of the 2010 game. The game isnaturally cinematic with many narrative-driven cut scenes and a compelling main storylinewith dozens of side quests available throughout the expansive terrain. At the time of writing,Red Dead Redemption 2has the largest open-world map of any Rockstar game, a stat that is sure to change with the highly-anticipated release ofGrand Theft Auto VIin 2026. There is a wealth of untapped narrative content to dive into with both modernRed Deadinstallments.
10 Movies & Shows To Watch If You Like American Primeval
Several other movies and shows capture similar Western and violent horror elements of Netflix’s epic period Western series American Primeval.
There are many thematic and narrative similarities betweenRed Dead RedemptionandAmerican Primeval. Both take place on epic, gritty Western terrain and are ultimately tales of survival in a relatively lawless land. Additionally, both games and the Netflix series follow protagonists who get caught up in a bigger battle than themselves between government forces and rebels (John Marston inRDR 1, Arthur Morgan inRDR 2, and Isaac Reed inAmerican Primeval). Theprevalent themes of violence and potential danger around every corner fuel the natural tension of all three narratives, makingRed Deadan ideal blueprint for a film or TV show.
WhileAmerican Primevalhas its gripping narrative moments, its story is not nearly as strong as eitherRed Dead RedemptionorRed Dead Redemption 2. This is not really a problem with RDR or RDR2, since both video games already have fantastic stories. One of the greatest aspects of theRed Deadfranchise is its outstanding and captivating protagonists in both Arthur Morgan and John Marston, who are both characters inRed Dead Redemption 2.In fact, the veryfirst installment of theRed Deadfranchise was the 2004 Rockstar-developedRed Dead Revolver, which also has a great story following bounty hunter Red Harlow in the 1880s.
American Primevalhas a lot of room to grow if producer and director Peter Berg wishes to extend the miniseries with a second season. The Netflix series is incredibly violent, featuring graphic and unforgettable scenes that border on the horror genre. At some points, it feels likeAmerican Primevalopts to entertain through violence over a compelling story, which is never the case inRed Dead Redemption. Violence is more of a tool and an inevitability in the celebrated video games.Gunfights, train robberies, and the like would create a more classic portrait of the American West in aRed Deadadaptation, whereasAmerican Primevalhighlights a more primitive conflict in the 1850s.
Based on how expansive all threeRed Deadgames are, any adaptation should really be a series rather than a feature film. A film could be great and focus only on the main storyline but a series would allow more of the well-crafted side quests to become a part of the story, which is one of the best parts of theRed Deadvideo game experience. Because the game is so large and there are so many regions and characters to explore,a serialized format is truly the best option for anyRed Deadadaptation. On the other hand, it would be fascinating to seeRed Deadon the big screen in the hands of a fantastic modern Western director.
American Primeval’s Horrifying French Family Explained & How It Connects To 48-Year-Old Horror Movie
The eerie French family in Netflix’s epic period Western series American Primeval draws comparisons to the cannibals in a classic 1977 horror film.
ARed Dead Redemptiontelevision/streaming series opens the door to all sorts of approaches and adaptations. The first season could focus on the 2010Red Dead Redemptionvideo game, leaving out theRed Dead Revolverprotagonist and story, and dive right into the action with John Marston. Alternatively,the series may benefit from having both Marston and Arthur Morgan in play from the start, which would mean that season 1 would adaptRed Dead Redemption 2. This would also make the most sense chronologically, considering thatRDR 2is a prequel toRDR 1. The franchise could also take a similar approach toYellowstoneand its two prequel series,1923and1883.
Recent TV video game adaptations make it plausible
With the recent success of video game adaptations getting made into celebrated streaming series such as HBO’sThe Last of Usand Amazon Prime Video’sFallout,aRed Dead Redemptionadaptation seems more logical and likely than ever before. While there’s been no official word on the development of aRed Deadfilm or television series, it feels like a conceptual no-brainer, especially considering the recent streaming success ofAmerican Primevalon Netflix, which still remains in the Top 10 TV Shows in the U.S. at the time of writing.
The tricky part of actually seeing aRed Deadfilm or movie come to fruition comes down to a simple question:do we really needs it?The video games are exceptional as they are and may just be too great for any film or television series to truly capture. Part of the fun ofRed Deadhas been the open-world aspect, where the main story and side quests are always available but not required to play the game. Theimmersion ofRed Dead Redemption 1 & 2would also have to be replicated in any film or television adaptationsince players don’t only play for the plot.Red Dead Redemptionis already wildly successful and may be better off staying in its lane, even afterAmerican Primeval’sstreaming success. Done correctly, however, an adaptation could be brilliant.
American Primeval
Cast
American Primeval is a Netflix limited series that follows the lives of several men and women in the middle of the expansion of the American West. Social dynamics clash as men and women battle for a piece of the new world against rivals and each other.
