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, who is best known for playing Hank Lawson in the long-running Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman, is making his directorial debut — adding a sense of authenticity to the proceedings. The film arrives in theaters on September 26 after Quiver Distribution acquired the North American distribution rights.
Mulroney, who has been warming up television screens since becoming Chicago Fire’s new chief in 2024, is trying on a new hat as an outlaw in the genre film. He is joined by young Blaine Maye (Joe Bell), Jacqueline Bisset (Bullitt), and Dominic Monaghan (The Lord of the Rings), who round out the ensemble cast. Long Shadows follows Marcus Dollar (Maye), who is on a quest for revenge against the horse thieves who killed his parents. Mulroney’s Dallas Garrett is along for the ride, teaching Marcus how to aim, among other necessary survival skills.
Check out ScreenRant’s exclusive first look at the trailer above, and be sure to check out the movie in theaters later this year.
1880s Arizona Territory Is Purgatory In Long Shadows Trailer
Dominic Monaghan Plays A Villain Opposite Dermot Mulroney’s Outlaw
Long Shadows takes place in the 1880s, in Arizona Territory, and finds Marcus vowing vengeance after his release from an orphanage at the tender age of 18. Aside from his mentor, other strange personalities abound, including Vivian Villeré (Bissett), the operator of a bordello with a suspiciously high employee turnover rate, her nasty associate Ned Duxbury (Monaghan), lawman Sheriff Wesley Tibbs (Grainger Hines), whose tragic past is filled with secrets, and Dulce Flores (Sarah Cortez), a young woman in Villeré’s employment whom Dollar attempts to free from her circumstances.The trailer paints a grim picture of Marcus’ life, underlining the “sorrow a mile deep” that he carries with him, which is exemplified by Garrett finding him at his parents’ graves. Meanwhile, Ned and Villeré plot to make Dulce “earn some bread and honey” by selling her body, which she does not wish to do and which Marcus cannot abide. They run off together, which incites the villains to chase 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 storyline with emotions overflowing.
Director William Shockley speaks about 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 that I had to make this film. I love emotional, engaging, period piece dramas, and with a Western centered around loss, redemption, and the quiet strength of the human connection, I knew I could bring this tale to vivid life. Faith is a thread in the tapestry of the story, and I wanted to delicately weave the intricacies of the human heart, exploring how a character finds peace, love, and a reclamation of their place in the world.
I also wanted Long Shadows to offer a European sensibility, with classical-inspired score, and exquisite costume and production design. And with a haunting twist that I dare say few will see coming, the story was replete. Blaine Maye and I had a deep-rooted, distinctive connection. He is soul-baring with his raw performance as Marcus Dollar, a tormented young man caught between vengeance and grace. Sarah Cortez is a gem, and we share a powerful understanding and respect for the craft of acting.
She is revelatory as Dulce Flores, a gifted pianist betrayed by trust and fate—offering a performance of subtlety, power, and star-making presence. Dermot Mulroney had to wear a prosthetic blind eye, and was such a trooper. He brought restrained gravitas and moral weight to Dallas Garrett, a reformed outlaw, guiding Marcus away from the ruinous mistakes he himself once made.
Jacqueline Bisset was a delight, serious and focused, and had such fun creating a wonderful cockney accent for Vivian Villeré. She is mesmerizing as the enigmatic madam of the Purgatory Saloon—her presence is both commanding and indelible. Dominic Monaghan was a joy to work with, fearless in his approach. He delivered a sudden, unpredictable turn as Ned Duxbury, Vivian’s longtime confidant, whose loyalties are as elusive as his motives.
