TV 1883 spin-off will focus on legendary Black lawman Bass Reeves, inspiration behind the Lone Ranger Saddle up, Bass Reeves rides again! By Lester Fabian Brathwaite Lester Fabian Brathwaite Lester Fabian Brathwaite is a staff writer at Entertainment Weekly, where he covers breaking news, all things Real Housewives, and a rich cornucopia of popular culture. Formerly a senior editor at Out magazine, his work has appeared on NewNowNext, Queerty, Rolling Stone, and The New Yorker. He was also the first author signed to Phoebe Robinson's Tiny Reparations imprint. He met Oprah once. EW's editorial guidelines Published on May 18, 2022 01:30PM EDT Taylor Sheridan's 1883, part of the ever-expanding Yellowstone TV universe, is getting its own spin-off based on Bass Reeves, the legendary Black marshal of the wild west. LaMonica Garrett and Sam Elliott in '1883'. Emerson Miller/Paramount+ Paramount+ announced the limited series, 1883: The Bass Reeves Story, on May 17, along with a slate of new programming including the Helen Mirren and Harrison Ford starring Yellowstone prequel 1932. Emmy nominee David Oyelowo is confirmed to play Reeves in the 1883 spin-off, having tried to get a Bass Reeves project off the ground for the past six years. Known as the greatest frontier hero in American history, and also believed to be the inspiration for the Lone Ranger, Reeves worked in the post-Reconstruction era as a federal peace officer in the Indian Territory, capturing over 3,000 of the most dangerous criminals without ever being wounded. The lawman has been getting a lot of scripted love as of late, appearing as a minor but integral character in HBO's Watchmen and being portrayed by the great Delroy Lindo in director Jeymes Samuel's The Harder They Fall. Sign up for Entertainment Weekly's free daily newsletter to get breaking TV news, exclusive first looks, recaps, reviews, interviews with your favorite stars, and more. Related content: Harrison Ford and Helen Mirren to star in Yellowstone origin series 1932 Nominated for Nothing: The good, the bad, and the ugly truth of The Harder They Fall Paramount+ orders new Yellowstone prequel 1932, plus more of 1883