Jim Bridger is one of the most important characters in Netflix's American Primeval, and here is the real-life story behind the historical figure.

Caught in the middle of it all is none other than mountain man Jim Bridger. Portrayed by legendary character actor Shea Whigham, Bridger is a connective tissue between many of the supporting characters in Primeval.

Netflix’s ‘American Primeval’ mixes reality with fiction to create a compelling tale of violence and bloodshed, as well as hope and survival. The story begins with a woman named Sara Rowell and her desire to find a safe haven for her and her son,

Yes, and no. American Primeval is a work of historic fiction. Meaning, Sara and Isaac’s story is made up, as is the story of Jacob and Abish. However, the backdrop of American Primeval is based on reality.

The series, now streaming on Netflix, depicts the brutality with which the Mormons sought to create a new world for their beliefs, the pride with which the native people held onto their ancestral lands, and the tragedy of the people just seeking to make a new home in the chaos. But is any of it true?

Netflix’s new historical drama “American Primeval” is currently the No. 1 series on the site. But how much of the show and its characters are based on the 1857 Utah War?

Wild Bill Hickman, Brigham Young's right-hand man, is one of the few characters based on a real-life historical figure in American Primeval.