Kurt Russell Is On Horseback In First Image From Bone Tomahawk

In the very first image from cannibal western Bone Tomahawk, Kurt Russell is doing exactly what you’d expect – being damn cool. For first time director S. Craig Zahler’s dusty horror yarn, Russell plays Sheriff Franklin Hunt, who heads up what’s been described as a brutally-violent tale. There’s little doubt about the violence, at least judging by today’s picture debut, which showcases Hunt atop his trusty steed with a rifle strapped on. You know, just in case.

Over the course of the film, Russell leads a group of four men played by Matthew Fox, Patrick Wilson and Richard Jenkins.  The story follows the group as they venture across the plains to rescue a handful of captives who’ve been kidnapped by a bunch of nomadic cannibals. It’s based on an original screenplay by director-writer Zahler, and one that’s garnered an equally impressive supporting roster. Lili Simmons (True Detective), Scream veteran David Arquette, Sean Young (Blade Runner), Sid Haig (The Devil’s Rejects), Evan Jonigkeit (Girls) and Kathryn Morris (Cold Case) are all on board to flesh out the cast.

After its announcement in 2012, development on the movie was halted for nearly two years. Russell was attached to star even back then, along with Dexter‘s Jennifer Carpenter, Timothy Olyphant and Peter Sarsgaard, who’ve all since dropped out of the project. With a burst of major casting announcements in the last couple of months, the cogs began whirring as the pic went into production – finally. With such an exciting genre-blend of horror and the western, it’s gonna be a real treat when this pic bags a release date. After all, who doesn’t love a bloody cannibal fight in the dirt?

Produced by Calibre Media, Bone Tomahawk will be seeking foreign distribution at this week’s American Film Market. A release date is expected in the fall or winter of 2015.