A waitress with big dreams and a rancher with nothing to lose make an uneasy alliance in Americana, a crime thriller set against the dusty backroads of South Dakota. The newly released trailer sets the stage for a high-stakes pursuit centered around the theft of a sacred Indigenous artifact and the fallout that follows.
Sydney Sweeney stars as Penny Jo Poplin, a small-town server with aspirations of becoming a country star. Her plans to reach Nashville take a detour when she teams up with Paul Walter Hauser’s character, Lefty Ledbetter, a down-on-his-luck veteran who’s got his eye on a fast way out. That shortcut? Stealing a Lakota ghost shirt that’s just hit the black market.
The official synopsis lays out the chaos that ensues: “A gallery of dynamic characters clash over the possession of a rare Native American artifact in this wildly entertaining modern-day western.” The trailer confirms it’s not just Penny and Lefty in the chase. They’re up against a dangerous criminal, played by Eric Dane, acting under orders from a shady antiquities dealer played by Simon Rex. Add in Zahn McClarnon as the leader of an Indigenous group and Halsey as a fugitive with a past, and it’s clear things aren’t staying quiet for long.
Americana premiered earlier this year at SXSW and marks the feature directorial debut of Tony Tost. Originally titled National Anthem, the film has been years in the making, bringing together a cast that also includes Gavin Maddox Bergman, Derek Hinkey and Toby Huss.
The film also serves as a reunion of sorts. Sweeney once again shares the screen with her Euphoria co-star Eric Dane. Meanwhile, Halsey had previously been announced as Sweeney’s co-lead in the still-unreleased HBO adaptation of The Players Table.
Produced by Alex Saks and backed by BRON Studios, Rhea Films, and Creative Wealth Media, Americana was shot on location with guidance from Native American activist Marcus RedThunder and the support of the New Mexico Film Office.
Lionsgate will release Americana in theaters on August 22.
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