Matt Dillon is heading to the Old West. The Oscar-nominated actor will star in and executive produce a new eight-episode drama series based on the classic 1960 film The Magnificent Seven for the premium channel and streaming service MGM+. This marks one of the few television leading roles in his decades-long career.
The project, which was first announced in December 2025, comes from Tim Kring, the creator of the hit series Heroes. According to the official announcement on February 24, 2026, production is scheduled to begin in June 2026 in Calgary, Canada. The series is described as a reimagining that will honor the legacy of the original movie while exploring its characters in greater depth over multiple episodes .
Dillon Steps into Yul Brynner’s Boots
Matt Dillon will play Chris Adams, the leader of the seven gunslingers. This is the role that Yul Brynner made famous in the 1960 original. Denzel Washington played a similar character, Sam Chisholm, in Antoine Fuqua’s 2016 film remake .
The character description from MGM+ paints a clear picture of who Chris Adams is. He is described as “stoic, steady under pressure, and with an unflinching gaze that does most of the talking for him.” The role requires a man who has “no patience for hypocrisy or cruelty” and follows “a quiet moral code rooted in fairness and restraint” .
Michael Wright, the global head of MGM+, expressed strong confidence in the casting choice. He stated, “Matt Dillon brings extraordinary depth and gravitas to this iconic role. His ability to portray complex, morally conflicted characters makes him the perfect choice to lead our reimagining of The Magnificent Seven. This series honors the legacy of the original film while exploring timeless themes about courage, redemption, and standing up against oppression—and Matt’s performance will be at the heart of that story” .
For Dillon, this role adds another memorable character to his already impressive resume. He is known for a wide range of films, from early dramas like The Outsiders and Rumble Fish to comedies like There’s Something About Mary and thrillers like Wild Things. He received an Academy Award nomination for his role in the 2006 film Crash .
What is the New ‘Magnificent Seven’ About?
The new series is not just a simple retelling. It is set to be a deeper, more character-driven story. The official logline reveals that the story takes place in the 1880s on the American frontier .
The plot centers on a peaceful Quaker village that is attacked by mercenaries working for a ruthless land baron who wants to steal their land. In response, seven skilled but flawed mercenaries are hired to protect the villagers. This setup creates a central conflict that the series will explore in detail .
Unlike the two-hour movie format, the eight-episode series will have time to ask a big question: “Is violence acceptable to defend people whose faith is based on non-violence?” . The show plans to explore the backstory of each of the seven mercenaries. Viewers will learn what is at stake for each of them personally and why they decided to take on this dangerous mission. Themes of honor, sacrifice, redemption, morality, and faith will be central to the story .
The Creative Team Behind the Series
The series is being written and executive produced by Tim Kring. He is best known for creating the NBC series Heroes, which became a cultural phenomenon. His other credits include Touch, Dig, and Crossing Jordan .
Kring is working with a strong team of executive producers. Donald De Line, who has worked on shows like Billy the Kid and Wayward Pines, is on board. Lawrence Mirisch and Bruce Kaufman are also executive producers. Lawrence Mirisch has a direct connection to the film’s history, as his father produced the original 1960 movie .
Seth Yanklewitz is handling the casting for the series. The show is a production of MGM+ Studios and MGM Television Studios .
Production and Streaming Details
Fans will have to wait a bit before they can see Dillon in the saddle. The production is targeted to start in June 2026 in Calgary, a popular location for filming Westerns due to its landscapes .
Once completed, The Magnificent Seven will be available on MGM+. This is the premium linear channel and streaming service formerly known as Epix. The series will be available to viewers in multiple countries. The initial release will cover the United States, United Kingdom, Belgium, the Netherlands, Italy, Spain, Germany, Brazil, Mexico, Colombia, and Chile .
No other cast members have been announced yet. As production gets closer, more names are expected to join Dillon in playing the other six members of the Seven.
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A Look Back at a Classic
The original The Magnificent Seven (1960) was directed by John Sturges. It starred Yul Brynner, Steve McQueen, Charles Bronson, James Coburn, and Robert Vaughn. The film itself was a remake of Akira Kurosawa’s masterpiece Seven Samurai (1954) .
The 1960 film was a massive hit and is considered one of the greatest Westerns ever made. It was so popular that it led to three sequels and a previous TV series that ran from 1998 to 2000. The memorable musical score by Elmer Bernstein is one of the most recognized in film history .
In 2016, Antoine Fuqua directed a big-screen remake with an all-star cast including Denzel Washington, Chris Pratt, and Ethan Hawke. The new MGM+ series is a separate project from that film and is not connected to the 1998 TV series .
This new version aims to bring the story to a modern audience while staying true to the spirit of the original. With Matt Dillon leading the way and a team of experienced producers behind it, the series is shaping up to be one of the most anticipated Western projects in development.
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Stay tuned to VvipTimes for more updates on casting news and exclusive behind-the-scenes details from the production of this classic Western reimagining.
