Legendary Western Icon Gets an Ambitious Sci-Fi Makeover in New Netflix Series

In 2023, western television tycoon Taylor Sheridan turned his attention away from the fictional Dutton family of Yellowstone and 1883 to tackle a real Lawman. Specifically, he explored one of the first African American Deputy U.S. Marshals west of the Mississippi — the legendary Bass Reeves — with the aptly named Lawmen: Bass Reeves at Paramount+. Created by Chad Feehan with Sheridan as an executive producer, the series followed the exploits of Reeves, played by David Oyelowo, as he forged his legacy as a former slave who rose to become one of the greatest heroes of the Old West. By all means, it was a success, earning rave reviews from critics and audiences alike and garnering a Critics’ Choice Award and Golden Globe nomination for Oyelowo.

Now, Netflix is taking a stab at the frontier icon, though not in a way anyone could’ve expected. Instead of going for a more historical angle like Feehan’s series, the streaming service’s new series takes place in an alternate reality Steampunk West, where it’s not just outlaws that are terrorizing people, but also machines and supernatural horrors that only a truly legendary lawman can tackle. Titled Bass X Machina, it’s the latest addition to the platform’s ever-growing slate of adult animation, promising plenty of action as Bass plays judge, jury, and executioner to the greatest threats to his family on the frontier. With every bit of justice he dispenses, however, he may end up jeopardizing the lives of everyone he’s fighting to save.

Bass X Machina was announced with two images that give a preview of this hardened version of Bass, who’s dressed every bit like the lawman he’s based on, save for having a mechanical right arm. The shots establish a world even harsher than the West that so many throughout history braved to start a new life, where even such powerful figures known for their heroism in reality are far from untouchable. Alongside the first look, Spider-Verse and Bullet Train favorite Brian Tyree Henry was tapped to voice this new version of Bass and serve as an executive producer. Henry has been killing it in animation for a while now, whether as Miles Morales’ father, Jefferson Davis, or as a young Megatron in the acclaimed Transformers One, and he’s also surrounded by a killer cast for the new series, including Janelle Monáe as Glory, Tati Gabrielle as Dana, Cree Summer as Ahni, Chaske Spencer as Lighthorse, Currie Graham as Rivenbark, and Starletta DuPois as Etta.

When Will ‘Bass X Machina’ Release?

Animation for Bass X Reeves is being done by South Korea’s Studio Mir, which previously worked on other Netflix animated hits like Devil May Cry and Skull Island. The series hails from a team including executive producers LeSean Thomas, Jennifer Wiley-Moxley, and Chad Handley, in addition to Henry. Monáe is also bringing some musical talent along with her, with Roman GianArthur and Nate Wonder from her Wondaland Arts Collective creating original music for the series. The wait to see this wild twist on such a familiar lawman won’t be overly long, as Netflix confirmed it’s due to release on the platform on October 6.

Stay tuned here at Collider for more on Bass X Machina as its release draws nearer. Check out the first images in the gallery above.