Netflix to Stream Award-Winning Series 'Lawmen: Bass Reeves' Starting June 1

Back in January, Netflix announced it had reached a licensing agreement with Paramount to add 20 Paramount shows to its library in the coming months. Some of the titles involved in the transfer included Mayor of Kingstown, Watson, Seal Team, Matlock and King of Queens.

According to a new post from What's on Netflix, Netflix is preparing to bring over a Paramount+ original series, Lawmen: Bass Reeves. The show, which stars David Oyelowo as the titular character, will debut on Netflix in the United States, United Kingdom and globally on June 1.

What to know about Lawmen: Bass Reeves

The Western drama, created by Chad Feehan and produced by Taylor Sheridan (Yellowstone) is based on the real life story of Reeves, the first Black U.S. Deputy Marshal west of the Mississippi River.

"Born into slavery back in 1838, Reeves and his family were owned by Arkansas state legislator William Reeves," Esquire wrote in 2023. "The house eventually passed down to his son, Colonel George Reeves, a former Texas sheriff. George Reeves forced Bass to join him in the fight against Confederacy during the American Civil War—but the colonel resigned from his commission sometime before the end of the war, due to disagreements with his commanding officers. Bass Reeves later escaped, with varying accounts of exactly how he fled."

Reeves was eventually recruited into law enforcement by Isaac "Hanging Judge" Parker and served as a U.S. Deputy Marshal for more than three decades. During his career, Reeves reportedly arrested 3,000 criminals.

Lawmen: Bass Reeves cast

Besides Oyelowo as Reeves, the series also includes:

• Lauren E. Banks as Jennie Reeves, Bass' wife
• Demi Singleton as Sally Reeves, Bass and Jennie's daughter
• Forrest Goodluck as Billy Crow
• Barry Pepper as Esau Pierce
• Dennis Quaidas Sherrill Lynn, a Deputy U.S. Marshal
• Donald Sutherland as Judge Isaac Parker
• Grantham Coleman as Edwin Jones

Actors Shea Whigham, Garrett Hedlund, Jessica Oyelowo, Rob Morgan and Heather Kafka are among those who also have recurring or prominent roles.

The show earned a strong reception

Lawmen: Bass Reeves won Outstanding Television Movie or Limited Series at the 2024 Black Reel Awards, with Oyelowo taking home Outstanding Lead Performance in a TV Movie/Limited Series and Wynn Thomas winning for Outstanding Production Design.

Overall, the show has a 79% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a 7.3/10 mark on IMDB.