We’ve all wondered what interactions between Oscar Wilde, William Shakespeare, and Jane Austen would look like. The cinephiles have definitely imaged Johnny Depp, Cate Blanchett, and Meryl Streep together. The creators of The Harder They Fall went a step further. Rufus Buck, Nat Love, and other people of the gang are inspired by real individuals.

The movie is based on Nat Love’s revenge against Rufus Buck. With an ensemble cast said to be one of the best of the year, the film is gaining popularity and critical apprehension rapidly. The Harder They Fall has been out on Netflix since October 22, 2021. Here’s the trailer:

What is The Harder They Fall about?

The Harder They Fall is about Jonathan Majors as Nat Love and his gang, out on a quest to take revenge on Rufus Black (Idris Elba). When outlaw Nat Love learns that his arch-enemy Rufus Buck is about to be released from jail, he gathers his gang to hunt down Rufus and exact vengeance. His old love Stagecoach Mary, his right and left-hand men— hot-tempered Bill Pickett and fast-drawing Jim Beckwourth— and a startling adversary-turned-ally are among those riding alongside him in this venture. Rufus Buck has his own ruthless posse, which includes “Treacherous” Trudy Smith and Cherokee Bill, and they aren’t afraid to lose.

With Jonathan Majors, Zazie Beetz, Delroy Lindo, LaKeith Stanfield, Danielle Deadwyler, Edi Gathegi, R.J. Cyler, Damon Wayans Jr., Deon Cole, Regina King, and Idris Elba, and a stunning all-star cast is one of the year’s best.

Is the movie based on real-life?

The ten main characters of Netflix’s The Harder They Fall are based on actual individuals that made a name for themselves in the wild west. But, they all dwelled in different places at different times. And, none of the people knew each other.

Nat Love from The Harder They Fall, played by Jonathan Majors, is an outlawed fugitive who runs a gang and wants to avenge his parents. The real Nat Love wasn’t a fugitive or a gang leader. Love was born into slavery in 1854 in Tennessee. At the age of 15, he won a raffle and used the prize money to start a new life. Love proceeded to make quite a reputation for himself as an experienced writer and gunslinger.

Idris Elba plays Rufus Buck, a cruel cowboy who has done some terrible things to make a name for himself. The real Rufus Buck was only 18 when he and his gang gained infamy. The gang, consisting only of teens, comprised only of Black and Native American folk. The notorious gang, before being executed at the gallows of Fort Smith in 1896, was behind many pillaging sprees throughout West America.

Love had retired from the cowboy life years before Black began his career.

LaKeith Stanfield plays Cherokee Bill in The Harder They Fall. The real-life Cherokee Bill wasn’t actually a part of Black’s gang but they were incarcerated together. The man, born Crawford Goldsby, got his nickname from his heritage and his reputation. In the Cherokee territory, “Bill” was a name given to anyone with a “wild hand”.

If LaKeith’s portrayal of the character doesn’t make Bill your instant favorite, here’s a little trivia: the real Cherokee Bill began his career at a very young age. His first crime was shooting a boy at the age of 17 because he had embarrassed him in front of a girl he liked.

Details about characters

All characters of this movie are based on someone badass and influential. But one thing that deserves a special mention is Redwood City itself. The prosperous city of Redwood didn’t exist, at least not by name. The place is based on other all-Black towns. These towns were set up after the American Civil War and provided to the colored folk opportunity that the oppressive and cruel White-dominated towns didn’t. They were self-sufficient and helped colored folk maintain distance from systems that could prove fatal for them.

Have you seen this star-studded movie celebrating the culture of the Wild West yet?