{
  "id": 19000563,
  "title": "Bill Paxton And Brendan Fraser Starred In A Forgotten Western Series With An All-Star Cast",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/08/bill-paxton-and-brendan-fraser-starred-in-a-forgotten-western-series",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-11-08T18:52:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "TVLine",
    "slug": "tvline",
    "url": "https://www.tvline.com/2308636/bill-paxton-brendan-fraser-western-series-all-star-cast-texas-rising/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "In 2015, the acclaimed television network History embarked on an ambitious project to produce a five-part Western series entitled Texas Rising. The series was helmed by the talented production team behind the hit show Hatfields & McCoys. This ambitious venture aimed to dramatize the tumultuous Texas Revolution, focusing on the post-Alamo period and the quest for Texan independence led by General Sam Houston. Bill Paxton, known for his role in Hatfields & McCoys, took on the significant part of General Houston, and was joined by a star-studded ensemble cast that included Brendan Fraser, Chad Michael Murray, Crispin Glover, Thomas Jane, Ray Liotta, Cynthia Addai-Robinson, Jeff Fahey, Jeremy Davies, and Jeffrey Dean Morgan. Despite the series' all-star roster and ambitious scope, it faced harsh criticism from reviewers who panned it for its slow pacing, poorly written dialogue, and reliance on overused stereotypes, ultimately garnering a disappointing 19% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes.\n\nDespite its poor reception, Texas Rising managed to offer Bill Paxton a dream role, as he had initially been considered for the character of Deaf Smith but was drawn to the more complex and inspiring figure of Sam Houston. The actor's connection to the historical figure was even more personal, as he discovered that they were second cousins four times removed. In a 2015 interview with Entertainment Weekly, Paxton shared his excitement about the role, stating that he felt \"born to play Sam Houston,\" a sentiment that director Roland Joffé echoed. The role was one of Paxton's last performances before his untimely death in 2017, a testament to his dedication to the project and his passion for the character he so deeply related to.",
  "summary": "Bill Paxton and Brendan Fraser were just two names in the sprawling cast of this ambitious Western miniseries. So why didn't the acclaim follow?",
  "key_points": [
    "Bill Paxton starred as General Sam Houston in Texas Rising",
    "Brendan Fraser was part of the all-star cast",
    "Series received 19% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}