Lawmen: Bass Reeves Season 2 Gets Optimistic Update From Star: “You Never Know”

The chances of Lawmen: Bass Reeves season 2 happening are addressed by star and executive producer David Oyelowo. Debuting in November 2023 on Paramount+ from creator Chad Feehan and producer Taylor Sheridan, Lawmen: Bass Reeves sees two-time Emmy nominee Oyelowo as the titular character Bass Reeves, who became the first Black U.S. Marshal in the American West. Despite generally positive reviews and solid viewership, there’s no word yet on Lawmen: Bass Reeves season 2.

Speaking with ScreenRant‘s Rachel Foertsch at SXSW for the red carpet event of his upcoming Apple TV+ drama Government Cheese, Oyelowo was asked if Lawmen: Bass Reeves could be coming back in the future. The actor struck a hopeful note, saying he was open to it and urging fans of the Western to make their voices heard. Read the quote below:

David Oyelowo: The more people ask for more Lawmen: Bass Reeves, the sooner it’ll happen, I think. I loved, loved, loved playing that role. To saddle up again is something I’m open to, so you never know.

The Viewership Seemed To BeThere

With a Lawmen: Bass Reeves supporting cast that includes Lauren E. Banks, Demi Singleton, Forrest Goodluck, Barry Pepper, and the late Donald Sutherland, the Western seemed to boast strong viewership. It ranked as the most-watched premiere for Paramount+ in late 2023. The first two episodes garnered 7.5M viewers, through the first seven days, counting both its availability on streaming and CBS. It also appeared on Nielsen’s Streaming Top 10, a relative rarity for a non-Netflix series.

1 Deleted Scene From Lawmen Bass Reeves’ Finale Failed A Crucial Character’s Ending

An intense confrontation between Jennie & the Ku Klux Klan in the Lawmen: Bass Reeves trailer never came to fruition in the season 1 finale.

Feehan spoke about how, with the Lawmen: Bass Reeves ending, he hoped to continue telling the story of the main character. Like other Taylor Sheridan dramas, a potential second installment could even maintain the same general setting and themes without necessarily telling more of Bass’ saga. There could be other lawmen to follow, for example. But without complete viewership data, or anything close to it, it’s hard to speculate on why the drama hasn’t been renewed. Still, there are a few guesses.

Our Take On Lawmen: Bass Reeves

Maybe There Is Something The Numbers Aren’t Telling

Bass Reeves in Lawmen Bass Reeves finale

It could be the case that the Western suffered from a drop in completion rate, with audiences that checked out the first few episodes not sticking around for the finale. The lack of a renewal is a bit curious, considering the openness of the lead star and creator. It is odd especially because Taylor Sheridan dramas are at the core of what drives Paramount+, along with the Stark Trek franchise. The lack of a renewal for Lawmen: Bass Reeves, more than a year later, does stand out.