Taylor Sheridan may have built his TV empire on modern Westerns like Yellowstone and Landman, but one of his most acclaimed projects took a deep dive into real history. Lawmen: Bass Reeves, starring David Oyelowo, told the story of the legendary deputy U.S. marshal who made over 3,000 arrests. Now, that same historical figure is getting a wild, genre-bending makeover at Netflix.
On November 3, the streaming giant unleashes Bass X Machina, an eight-episode adult animated series that drops Reeves into a steampunk version of the Old West. Academy Award nominee Brian Tyree Henry voices this new Bass—not a marshal this time, but a bounty hunter with a prosthetic arm who operates as judge, jury, and executioner. The world he inhabits is far more dangerous than the one we know, filled with mechanical menaces and supernatural threats.
The plot centers on Bass being called by the government to stop the resurrection of the Confederacy. But every act of justice he takes to protect his family risks putting them in even greater danger. It's a fresh, high-stakes twist on a familiar legend, blending sci-fi, action, and Western tropes into something entirely new.
Studio Mir, the animation house behind Netflix's Devil May Cry adaptation, is handling the visuals. The voice cast is stacked: Janelle Monáe, a ten-time Grammy nominee, sings the opening theme and voices Bass's wife, Glory. Tati Gabrielle plays Dana Starr, a young aspiring engineer who becomes Bass's unlikely companion. Cree Summer, Chaske Spencer, Currie Graham, and Starletta DuPois round out the ensemble.
This isn't the first time Reeves has been reimagined, but it's certainly the boldest. While Lawmen took a grounded, historical approach, Bass X Machina leans fully into fantasy. The trailers suggest the show will still honor the character's identity as a family man, even as he battles mechanical outlaws and Confederate zombies.
For fans of Sheridan's gritty Westerns, this might be a departure, but it's also a testament to how versatile the genre can be. If you're looking for something more traditional, check out these must-read books for Taylor Sheridan fans. Or if you want to see another take on the Old West, Stephen King's Dark Tower Western is hitting Paramount+ this month.
Bass X Machina premieres on Netflix on November 3. With its unique blend of history, sci-fi, and animation, it's shaping up to be one of the most talked-about releases of the fall. Stay tuned for more updates on this and other streaming highlights.
