Dermot Mulroney is trading Chicago for the Wild West in Long Shadows, and ScreenRant has an exclusive look at the first trailer for the project. William Shockley, best known for playing Hank Lawson on the long-running Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman, is making his directorial debut—adding a sense of authenticity to the process. The film hits theaters on September 26 after Quiver Distribution picked up North American distribution rights.
Mulroney, who has been heating up TV screens since becoming the new director of Chicago Fire in 2024, is taking on a new role as an outlaw in the genre film. He is joined by a young Blaine Maye (Joe Bell), Jacqueline Bisset (Bullitt) and Dominic Monaghan (Lord of the Rings), who round out the cast. Long Shadows follows Marcus Dollar (Maye), who is on a quest to avenge the horse thieves who killed his parents. Mulroney’s Dallas Garrett also joins the journey, teaching Marcus how to aim and other essential survival skills.
1880s Arizona Territory Trailer Is Purgatory in Long Shadows
Long Shadows takes place in the 1880s, in the Arizona Territory, and Marcus vows revenge after being released from an orphanage at the age of 18. Alongside his mentor, there are a number of other strange characters, including Vivian Villeré (Bissett), who runs a brothel with a suspiciously high turnover rate, her unsavory partner Ned Duxbury (Monaghan), Sheriff Wesley Tibbs (Grainger Hines), whose tragic past is filled with secrets, and Dulce Flores (Sarah Cortez), a young woman who works for Villeré whom Dollar tries to rescue from her situation.
The trailer paints a dark picture of Marcus’ life, emphasizing the “deep sadness” he carries with him, illustrated by Garrett finding him at his parents’ grave.
Meanwhile, Ned and Villeré plot to make Dulce “earn some bread and honey” by selling her body, something she doesn’t want to do and Marcus can’t bear. They run away together, which incites the villains to pursue our hero even as he searches for his parents’ killer with Garrett’s help. Adventure and romance are present throughout the trailer, promising a high-stakes plot with plenty of emotion.
Director William Shockley on bringing Long Shadows to life and working with the talented cast and crew:
William Shockley: When I read the first draft of Long Shadows, I knew I had to make it. I love compelling, emotional period dramas, and with a Western that revolves around loss, redemption, and the quiet power of human connection, I knew I could bring this story to life.
Faith is a thread in the story’s embroidery, and I wanted to delicately weave together the complexities of the human heart, exploring how one character finds peace, love, and reclaims their place in the world.
I also wanted Long Shadows to have a European feel, with a classically inspired score, exquisite costumes and production design. And with a haunting twist that I dare say few could have seen coming, the story comes full circle. Blaine Maye and I have a deep, special connection.
He bares his soul in his raw performance as Marcus Dollar, a broken young man caught between revenge and grace. Sarah Cortez is a gem, and we share a strong understanding and respect for the craft of acting.
She is a revelation as Dulce Flores, a talented pianist betrayed by trust and fate—giving a subtle, powerful performance and a star-making presence. Dermot Mulroney wears a prosthetic eye, and he is a fighter. He brings seriousness and moral weight to Dallas Garrett, a reformed outlaw who guides Marcus away from the disastrous mistakes he himself made.
Jacqueline Bisset is fun, earnest, and focused, and has fun doing a great Cockney accent for Vivian Villeré. She is charming as the mysterious proprietress of the Purgatory Saloon—her presence is both imposing and indelible. Dominic Monaghan is a joy to work with, fearless in his approach. He delivers an unexpected, unpredictable turn as Ned Duxbury, Vivian’s longtime confidant whose loyalties are as elusive as his motives.
Long Shado
