Larissa Mair Casting & Associates has put out a casting call for Lakota-speaking talent for a History Channel miniseries on Sitting Bull.
Sitting Bull is four-hour special event miniseries that will depict the life of the revered Lakota leader as it has never been seen on television – from within his world looking out. With dialogue scenes performed in the Lakota language and insights from respected Lakota elders, historians, and cultural representatives, this project will offer viewers an important alternate perspective on the conquest of the American frontier, and a new appreciation for both the heroism and the humanity of the great chief.
The series is to film in Canada this summer. No tentative release date. There’s a good list of indigenous characters, including Gall, which pleases me, and the Arikara scout Bloody Knife.
Gall.
Bloody Knife.
I find the Hollywood-speak on Crazy Horse amusing:
[CRAZY HORSE]
Male. 25-35. Indigenous. Crazy Horse, Sioux name Ta-sunko-witko, (born 1842 maybe, near present-day Rapid City, South Dakota, U.S.-died September 5, 1877, Fort Robinson, Nebraska), a chief of the Oglala band of Lakota (Teton or Western Sioux) who was an able tactician and a determined warrior in the Sioux resistance to European Americans’ invasion of the northern Great Plains.
Charismatic, brooding, uber-warrior. A hit with the ladies. And the men. Imagine the Lakota Idris Elba. Light skin. Curly hair. RECURRING PRINCIPAL
We’ll keep an eye on the production.
Reese Crawford says
I wonder if Brings Plenty will be in it. Would be interesting to see his descendent Mo Brings Plenty play him on screen.
Side note. If you’re still on a South Africa kick, forgotten weapons dropped a video on a monkey tail carbine this morning. It’s not the exact model used by the Boers in the first Boer War but he gives some history on the type.
JimC says
I’ll check that out at lunch. Thanks.
Beverly+Rampey says
I did research at the Library of Congress for a paper on Sitting Bull while in school. There are many public records detailing his activities (read raids) and finally the military records of his last days. Fascinating reading and tho this was many years ago, I would think the records are still open to the public.
lane batot says
Dang! I sure hope to see this!(somehow…..) I always thought Russel Means would have made the PERFECT film Sitting Bull, but Hollywood never got around to it in time(sigh)…..
Jean says
I’m looking forward to this program! Thanks for the heads-up.
Joe says
“Charismatic, brooding, uber-warrior.”
On one hand, though this is probably just Hollywood shorthand, I can’t help but wonder how over the top this portrayal will be.
On the other hand, it’s History Channel content that isn’t Pawn Stars or Ancient Aliens, so +1 for that alone hah.
Boris says
Is there any news as of May 2023? Haven’t heard anything, so is it abandoned?
Bongo says
yeah, 2 years later. I think it’s done. It would have been nice, though.
Corbin Peltier says
I am a decendant of Sitting bull,my momma’s a Yellowhammer from the Standing Rock , Lakota Sioux tribe,I am an AIM member my last name is Peltier.
JimC says
Thanks for stopping by the campfire Corbin.