Summary

• Netflix's new western series, The Abandons, reunites Sons of Anarchy stars for an exciting frontier tale set in 1850s Oregon.
• Creator Kurt Sutter's past struggles may find redemption with this stellar cast, promising violent, outlaw antics similar to his iconic show.
• The Abandons looks to recapture Sutter's former success with an impressive ensemble cast including Game of Thrones and Sons of Anarchy stars.

Netflix’s new western series, The Abandons, is turning into a Sons of Anarchy reunion for creator Kurt Sutter. Telling the story of a diverse group of renegade families in 1850s Oregon, the upcoming series is set to be led by Game of Thrones’ Lena Headey and The X-Files’ Gillian Anderson as the matriarchs of opposing frontier clans. Sutter, who also starred in Sons of Anarchy as the incarcerated SAMCRO member Otto Delaney, previously cast Michael Ornstein, who played his character’s onscreen prison friend Chucky Marstein.

Per Variety, a fresh slate of casting announcements now confirms that Ryan Hurst, the actor who played Sons of Anarchy character Opie Winston, is now set to join his former castmates in a recurring role. Additionally, the show’s casting update also sees Rebel Moon’s Michiel Huisman reuniting with his own former Game of Thrones castmate Headey. Other new additions include Michael Greyeyes (1923) and Toby Hemingway (The Crossing).

Could Kurt Sutter’s New Show Top Sons of Anarchy’s Success?

The Sons Of Anarchy Creator Has A Tough Time Since The Show Ended.

However, in the years since Sons of Anarchy ended in 2014, Sutter’s work has struggled to recapture the same kind of success enjoyed by his iconic outlaw series.

First establishing himself as a writer and producer on the hit crime drama The Shield, Sutter eventually became a household name because of the enormous success of his show Sons of Anarchy. Running for seven seasons, Sutter’s exploration of outlaw motorcycle gangs combined with Sons of Anarchy's Shakespearean influences proved a hit with audiences and critics alike. Not only would the show accumulate an impressive array of accolades throughout its original run, but it would also spawn a comic book series and the 2018 spinoff show Mayans M.C.

However, in the years since Sons of Anarchy ended in 2014, Sutter’s work has struggled to recapture the same kind of success enjoyed by his iconic outlaw series. Not only would his 2015 historical drama The Bastard Executioner end up cancelled after just one season, but, in 2019, he was also fired by FX from Mayans M.C. amid complaints of unprofessional behavior. Sutter, however, refuted these claims and suggested that the move was due to Disney’s “inane PC restraints” and their belief that he was “dangerous to the wholesome brand.”

Sutter’s new Netflix show represents the embattled creator’s first real chance at returning to the success he once enjoyed with Sons of Anarchy. Boasting an impressive ensemble cast, which includes several of his previous collaborators, The Abandons already looks set to be an impressive addition to Netflix’s streaming library. Whether it can live up to the legacy of his last hit show remains to be seen, but its premise also promises the same kinds of violent, outlaw antics that he has become known for.

Source: Variety