DiCaprio’s The Revenant inspires American Primeval 10 years later.

American Primeval, a new Western drama miniseries on Netflix, has a secret connection to Leonardo DiCaprio’s Oscar-winning film The Revenant. While the show tells an original story, it shares a major connection to the true story behind the film. The connection lies in the character of Jim Bridger, a real-life mountain man who was the founder of Fort Bridger.

In The Revenant, a younger version of Bridger is shown as a member of Hugh Glass’ fur trapping party. In American Primeval, Shea Whigham plays Jim Bridger, who is a key character in the series. Although it isn’t confirmed, it is widely believed that Jim Bridger was involved in the real-life story of Hugh Glass’ survival. Recountings of Glass’ story state that a man named Bridges was one of the men tasked with waiting for Glass to die, with it being believed that Bridges is actually Jim Bridger.

Both The Revenant and American Primeval share a thematic connection, focusing on survival and the hardships that their characters go through while trying to reach someone. The stories also share a dark tone, with near-death experiences being a constant theme. Additionally, both films feature cannibalistic characters, with the French family in American Primeval being portrayed as monstrous and dangerous.

The connection between the two stories is not limited to Jim Bridger. Both films also explore the theme of survival, with the characters facing numerous dangers and hardships along the way. The Revenant follows Hugh Glass as he attempts to find his son’s killers after a brutal bear attack, while American Primeval follows a mother and son as they attempt to cross the dangers of the frontier.

Overall, American Primeval is a Western drama miniseries that shares a secret connection to The Revenant. While the show tells an original story, it draws inspiration from the true story behind the film and explores similar themes of survival and hardship.