Fan CastingOperation Wilderness: A South Dakota Journey — Chapter One

Operation Wilderness: A South Dakota Journey — Chapter One is a 2025 American neo-Western adventure drama film written, co-produced, and directed by Taylor Sheridan. Produced by Legendary Pictures and The Stone Quarry and distributed by Lionsgate Films, it is the first installment in the titular film series. The film stars an ensemble cast that consists of Ryan Kiera Armstrong, Dennis Quaid, Anthony Mackie, Jeremy Renner, Ben Foster, Vincent D'Onofrio, Chris Pine, Emma Stone, Michelle Latimer, and Gil Birmingham. It is set in modern-day South Dakota and follows the exploits of Jessie Oakley, a resourceful and caring teenage girl who joins up with her grandfather's organization to protect and preserve the wildlife against French Fur Traders, who are interested in profit. Chapter One opened in theaters on December 12th, 2025; the film received widespread acclaim, with praise for the story, visual style, direction, action sequences, depth, the performances of Armstrong, Quaid, Mackie, Renner, Foster, and Birmingham, cinematography, Hans Zimmer's musical score, themes, and emotional weight. However, it received minor criticism for its long running time of 3 hours and 18 minutes. The film was a box-office success and grossed over $710 million worldwide, making it Sheridan's highest-grossing directorial film. A sequel entitled Operation Wilderness: A South Dakota Journey — Chapter Two is in development.