Outer Range interestingly mixes genres, combining the tropes of traditional Western serials with high-concept science fiction. But one of the pivotal aspects of the show is the stunning cinematography, and the locations used in its production to create the specific feel of rural Wyoming, a place with such natural beauty that two families are willing to fight and die for the land. But despite the specificity of the setting, Outer Range was not filmed in Wyoming at all.
Filming Locations
Outer Range takes place in Wyoming but it was not shot there. The crew had to use various landscapes to make up the familiar aesthetic of the show.
To help present the wide open spaces, New Mexico was utilized due to its vast expanses and evocative scenery. Santa Fe would lend itself to the production, and external shots, and some more urban areas, were shot there.
Another area in New Mexico, oddly named Las Vegas, was another locale the show filmed in. An article in The Albuquerque Journal would offer some insight: “Returning series have become a big part of the growing film landscape in New Mexico,” said Amber Dodson, New Mexico Film Office director.
“It is exciting to see a successful production like ‘Outer Range’ continue to choose New Mexico and for rural areas like Las Vegas to continue to see the economic benefits of a television series for two consecutive years.”
The Production Team Behind the Series
The named producers on Outer Range are Trevor Baker, Andrew Balek, Naledi Jackson, and Lucy Thurber. The production companies are Amazon Prime, Brad Pitt’s Plan B Entertainment, and Reunion Pacific, which you may recognizee as the company behind The Man in the High Castle.
The official synopsis from Prime Video states:
“Outer Range centers on Royal Abbott (Josh Brolin), a rancher fighting for his land and family, who discovers a dark void at the edge of Wyoming’s wilderness. The mystery surrounding the void pulls two families into an epic confrontation for the control of time itself.”
Production Timeline Explained
Outer Range has been a long time coming.
- As far back as 2020, Josh Brolin was linked to the project and was also named as an executive producer.
- By December 2020, more casting was announced, including Noah Reid, Isabel Arraiza, Lewis Pullman, and Shaun Sipos. The interest from Josh Brolin brought the series a lot of attention as it was the first TV show he had appeared in for two decades.
- The first season of Outer Range debuted on April 15th, 2022.
- By October of the same year, the show was greenlit for a second season.
- Filming began in the Spring of 2023.
- An official trailer for Season 2 arrived in April 2024.
- Outer Range Season 2 debuted on May 16th, 2024.
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