Mormon pioneers featured in "violent" Netflix historical drama "American Primeval"

"Up is down, pain is everywhere, innocence and tranquility are losing the battle to hatred and fear," per Netflix, which released early images of the show Tuesday. "There is no safe haven in these brutal lands, and only one goal matters: survival."

What's inside: The casting notes and photo captions indicate Utah will be featured prominently, with Kim Coates guest starring as Young.

• Jacob and Abish Pratt, heads of a Mormon pioneer family, are listed as starring roles — but they appear to be fictionalized and unconnected to the famous early church leaders Parley and Orson Pratt. The Pratts are played by Dane DeHaan and Saura Lightfoot-Leon.
• Joe Tippett stars as a Latter-day Saint leading a morally compromised militia.
• Alex Breaux plays Wild Bill Hickman, a Utah frontiersman and lawmaker who led attacks on the Timpanogos people in Rock Canyon.
• Mountain man Jim Bridger will be played by Shea Whigham.

What they're saying: Brigham Young is described as "a man who will do whatever it takes to secure the survival of his persecuted followers — including using his Mormon army, the Nauvoo Legion," the cast description states.

Zoom in: "American Primeval" features a number of Indigenous actors, though it's not clear which nations and tribes will be shown in the series.

• Cast descriptions show at least one character, played by Derek Hinkey, is Crow.

Catch up quick: Latter-day Saints and related sects tend to get a lot of attention in streaming productions, from the docuseries "Daughters of the Cult" to September's "The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives."

What's next: "American Primeval" premieres Jan. 9.

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