Inspired by the true story of lawman Bass Reeves (1838-1910), the first Black deputy U.S. Marshall in the upper Midwest Territory.
The miniseries was originally slated for 6 entries before being expanded to 8.
"The Lone Ranger" character was inspired by the adventures of the real Bass Reeves.
The judge who makes Bas Reeves a marshal, played by Donald Sutherland, is also a minor but important character in the classic western movie True Grit - both the John Wayne and the Jeff Bridges versions. He was a real judge operating out of Fort Smith and known as the hanging judge. His court was sometimes called the slaughterhouse, as he was known for executing those he believed to be guilty.