Organ Trail: Mather Zickel joins the cast of Paramount horror Western

A couple weeks ago, we shared the awesome news that Paramount Pictures has given the greenlight to a horror Western project with the brilliant title Organ Trail (inspired by the real life Oregon Trail, a wagon route that connected the Missouri River to valleys in Oregon back in the 1800s). Now Deadline has revealed that Mather Zickel, who plays the role of Sam’s Ex on the FX series Better Things, has joined the cast of the film.

Michael Patrick Jann (Drop Dead Gorgeous) is directing Organ Trail from a screenplay by Meg Turner. The story centers on

a young Abigale Archer friendless and alone in a brutal Montana winter during the 1870s—fighting for survival and to retrieve her one earthly possession, her family’s horse, from a gang of bloodthirsty bandits. 

Zickel’s co-stars include Zoé De Grand Maison (Riverdale), Olivia Applegate (Driven), Clé Bennett (The Falcon and the Winter Soldier), Nicholas Logan (Creepshow), Sam Trammell (Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem), and Jessica Frances Dukes (Ozark).

Zickel is taking on the role of Pa Archer, “a gaunt but imposing figurehead that has a commanding energy balanced by an instinctive compassion. In the throes of a brutal Montana winter, Pa’s steadfastness and sense of purpose—along with the skills he learned as a soldier in the Civil War—are the foundation on which his family’s survival rests.”

Jann is producing Organ Trail with David Codron. Jann “served as an executive producer and director for the series Reno 911!, also exec producing Flight of the Conchords and Little Britain for HBO, and directing episodes of Wayne for Amazon and Daybreak for Netflix. Jann is best known on the film side for directing the cult-classic beauty mockumentary Drop Dead Gorgeous.” While he directed episodes of horror comedy shows like Daybreak, Reaper, and Ghosted, it appears that this will be his first full-on horror project.

In addition to Better Things, Zickel’s previous credits include Southbound; Suburbicon; How to Be a Latin Lover; Hail, Caesar!; Wanderlust; I Love You, Man; Rachel Getting Married; Balls of Fury; L.A.’s Finest; Younger; Masters of Sex; Bones; House of Lies; and Reno 911!.

How does Organ Trail sound to you? Let us know by leaving a comment below.