The guns-blazing, horse-galloping genre known as the Western has traditionally been a male-dominated one, but a new Netflix drama series is here to give the classic form a female-focused update.
At the center of "The Abandons" — the latest series from "Sons of Anarchy" and "Mayans M.C." creator Kurt Sutter — are one powerhouse pair of performers: Gillian Anderson and Lena Headey, both of whom know their way around leading a buzzy show (Anderson, of course, with "The X-Files" and "The Crown"; Headey with "Game of Thrones").
"We are at a crossroads, Fiona," declares Anderson's Constance Van Ness at the top of the two-minute teaser. "My pursuit of your land is not greed. It is survival." Van Ness is the formidable head of the ruthless Van Ness mining dynasty in 1850s Angel's Ridge, a fictional town in Washington Territory.
Her ambitions to grow the mining fortune she inherited from her husband have her eyeing the land of a fellow fiercely protective matriarch, Fiona Nolan (Headey), who oversees her own hearty brood of adopted children. But despite Constance's numerous pricey offers, Fiona and co. aren't budging: "My family are five abandoned souls now kin. God gave us this home," Headey's Fiona heatedly tells Van Ness. "And only God can take it away." Let the juicy rivalry begin!
Along with its two leading ladies, the trailer also gives an early look at the rest of "The Abandons" cast, which includes "Love, Simon" star Nick Robinson, Irish actress Aisling Franciosi (who appeared alongside Anderson on "The Fall"), "Space Force" lead Diana Silvers, Canadian actor Lamar Johnson ("The Last of Us") and "MacGyver" star Lucas Till, among others. And given the teaser clip's tantalizing mix of furious firebombs, forbidden romances, family tensions and fast-paced horse chases, it's clear the actors were given plenty to work with here.
Per Netflix, the official synopsis for the high-profile new Western reads: "Set in Washington Territory in 1854, the series follows the matriarchs of two very different families: one of wealth and privilege, bound by blood; and the other a found family of orphans and outcasts, bound by love and necessity."
"The families find their fates linked by two crimes, an awful secret, a star-crossed love, and a piece of land with silver underneath," the summary continues. "The collision echoes the American struggle of the haves and have-nots, in a place just beyond the reach of justice. That collision sets the stage for a story of love, betrayal, and survival."
Tom's Guide will keep you updated on all things related to Netflix's "The Abandons," including new trailers and teaser clips, plot points, character descriptions and behind-the-scenes intel.
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