How did Kim Coates prepare for his role as Brigham Young in American Primeval? Details explored

Kim Coates' portrayal of Brigham Young in the soon-to-be-released Netflix series, American Primeval, looks set to be a game-changer. The show, which takes place in the 1857 American frontier, is about how people survived and the battles they faced to hold onto power. For Coates, getting the chance to play Young was “the offer of a lifetime,” as he said to Tudum.

The actor went all in to get into character, beyond just reading a couple of books. He picked up biographies, spoke to people from the Mormon Church to get their perspective, and even went to a "cowboy camp" to get the hang of life back in the day. He learned the ropes and got his hands dirty to make sure he nailed the frontier vibe.

If the effort shows in his performance, Coates remarked,

“I genuinely have never played a character like Brigham Young before.”

His observation underlines how tough and important it must have beeen for him to play a character like Young. Kim Coates went all in, studying Young's way of moving and thinking, and worked hand-in-hand with director Peter Berg and the production crew.

Let's check out the details of how he got ready for the role!

Research and historical context before Kim Coates stepped into the character of Brigham Young

Kim Coates dove into his role by studying Brigham Young's life. He talked to Tudum in October 2024 and said he read books like Brigham Young: Pioneer Prophet, The Prophet and the Reformer: The Letters of Brigham Young and Thomas L. Kane, and The Twenty-Seventh Wife. These books helped him learn how Young led the Mormons when they moved to Utah.

Plus, he talked to a couple of people of the Mormon Church, which let him understand Young's importance in the religion and their way of life better.

The actor talked about this as being “a difficult journey,” saying,

“I wanted to know all about Young, and it was a tough exploration at times.”

Kim Coates didn't just stick to books, though. He also drew inspiration from an old audio clip from the 1890s to get Young's accent just right. He tailored Young's mid-Atlantic accent from the past.

Because of his hard work, Kim Coates managed to create a character that is almost as big and powerful as the real Young was back in the day.

Kim Coates' transformation to play Brigham Young

Kim Coates went through a big change to play Brigham Young just right. He colored his hair to a lighter shade, closer to Young's reddish blond. Plus, he put on extra pounds to look more like the original Young.

He worked closely with people who styled the costumes, hair, and makeup. They focused on the little things that would make him look like Young, including the sharp blue eyes and the way he always wore clean clothes in layers. Of course, he had to have those famous mutton chops!

In a virtual interview to Mama’s Geeky, Coates spoke of how much effort went into getting all the details right. He said,

“The wardrobe was just key for me. If anyone was going to dress well, it was Brigham Young.”

Cozy wool outfits let Coates get into the skin of the character, and assume Young’s tough but controversial personality. Director Peter Berg only called Coates “Governor Young” while they were filming!

He raved about how much effort Kim Coates put into the role, saying,

“He stayed in character all day, which I thought was extraordinary.”

Kim Coates trained for American Primeval at Santa Fe's cowboy camp

To get ready for the rough and tumble of the wilderness in American Primeval, Coates and the rest of the cast spent a whole month at an actual "cowboy camp" in Santa Fe. This intense training was all about getting comfortable on horseback and getting used to the tough outdoors.

Kim Coates, who is no stranger to horseriding, said the camp was important for all, to prepare for the demanding filming process ahead.

In an interview he gave in October 2024, he talked about it , saying,

“There were no sound stages; it was all outdoors, 24/7.”

The training helped the cast members bond, especially Shea Whigham, who plays Jim Bridger. Coates said it was crucial for their performances, and without it they wouldn't have been able to pull off American Primeval.

Kim Coates acknowledged,