News started trickling out late last year, then deadline.com reported that a new indie movie called Abilene was already in production (as of 9 December). Since then, a few more details have been mentioned in the media. So what do we know about this new movie?
Note: The movie has now been released under the title HICKOK, so I have updated this post
Hickok / Abilene – movie 2017
Genre Western
Production Company Status Media u0026amp; Entertainment in association with Avery Productions 11
Script Michael Lanahan
Director Timothy Woodward Jr
Producers Chris Nicoletti and Henry Penzi
Lead Character Wild Bill Hickok
This indie movie features Luke Hemsworth as Wild Bill Hickok. It also stars Kris Kristofferson as George Knox, Trace Adkins as Phil Poe, Bruce Dern as Doc Rivers and Kaiwi Lyman-Mersereau playing John Wesley Hardin.
Setting: Wild Bill Hickok is known as the fastest draw in the West. The famous gunslinger heads for Abilene to track down an ex-ladyfriend. The wild living lawman gets drawn into local affairs during his visit.
Hickok / Abilene Movie Trailer
Abilene in the Wild West
Abilene earned its name as Queen of the Cowtowns n 1867. It’s shipping point u0026amp; stockyard caused rapid growth u0026amp; prosperity. People of questionable character and temperament followed.
Law abiding citizens were brought into contact u0026amp; conflict with some very undesirable people like gamblers, confidence tricksters and anyone out to make or take money by any means. High-spirited cowboys looking to let off steam added to increasing levels of lawlessness u0026amp; crime was rife.
Thomas J “Bear River” Smith became Abilene’s first Chief of Police on 4 June 1870. He prohibited the carrying of firearms in the town by anyone without a permit to do so. Thomas Smith was well-respected, but sadly his career was cut short when he was cowardly murdered on 2 November 1870. His position was filled by Wild Bill Hickok on 15 April 1871.
New railheads and the resolve of the residents ended Abilene’s wildest days. Abilene’s reign as Queen of the Cowtowns lasted around four years.
Wild Bill Hickok
James Butler Hickok was born 27 May 1837 in Try Grove, Illinois
Known to be an excellent marksman since childhood
Moved West to farm in 1855, he was a Frontiersman
Served with anti-slavery forces in Kansas
Occupations included stagecoach driver, scout, provost-marshal, teamster u0026amp; spy for the Union Army, Sheriff of Hays City, Marshal of Abilene, joined Bill Cody’s Wild West Show
Gunslinger (killed 3 men in a shootout in 1861) and known as the fastest draw in the West with his twin pistols.
Legend says that he killed many more people in shootouts.
Accidentally shot and killed his deputy, Mike Williams
Suffered from glaucoma from 1876
Married a circus owner, Agnes Thatcher Lake on 5 March 1876 but left her a few months later.
Sought his fortune in the goldfields and some legends say he became involved with Calamity Jane during this time.
Murdered 2 August 1876 by Jack McCall who shot him in the back of his head while he was playing poker.
The cards he held when he was shot became known as the Dead Man’s Hand – A pair of black eights and pair of black Aces
Kris Kristofferson in Western Movies
1973 Pat Garrett u0026amp; Billy the Kid
1974 Bring me the head of Alfredo Garcia
1980 Heavens Gate
1986 Stagecoach
1986 The Last Days of Frank u0026amp; Jessie James
1988 The Tracker
1996 Lonestar
1998 Two for Texas
1999 Outlaw Justice
2016 Traded
This list is not complete.
Sources : DailyMail, Deadline, IMD, IMDTITLE, Bio : Featured image is Public Domain here
