Benjamin Hollingsworth’s New Chapter: From Charming Small-Town Doctor to Gritty Western Antihero in His Boldest Role Yet

Benjamin Hollingsworth, best known for his role as the warm-hearted and sometimes impulsive Dr. Dan Brady in Netflix’s Virgin River, is officially turning the page to a striking new chapter in his career. After years of playing modern-day romantics and small-town heroes, Hollingsworth is trading in his stethoscope for a six-shooter — stepping into a darker, more complex world that promises to redefine his image as an actor. His new project, a Western drama from Paramount’s Yellowstone universe tentatively titled “Frontier’s End,” marks his most ambitious role to date: a morally torn lawman trying to survive in a land where justice comes at a cost.

This transformation isn’t just about a new setting — it’s about a new identity. For Hollingsworth, the shift from contemporary romance to frontier grit signals a reinvention that fans have long been waiting for. After five successful seasons on Virgin River, where his character fought to overcome addiction, heartbreak, and redemption, the actor now seeks to explore what he calls “the moral gray zone that defines real strength.” In a recent interview, he revealed, “I wanted to tell stories where good and bad aren’t so clear. The world isn’t black and white — it’s all shades of dust and blood.”

Frontier’s End — currently filming in New Mexico under the creative supervision of Taylor Sheridan’s production company — tells the story of Elias Boone, a former Confederate soldier turned federal tracker in the 1870s. Haunted by his past, Boone roams the American frontier enforcing laws he barely believes in, constantly torn between duty and conscience. When he’s assigned to bring in a notorious outlaw with ties to his own history, Boone is forced to confront his demons — both the ones he’s chasing and the ones that live inside him.

From the first glimpses of early production stills, Hollingsworth looks nearly unrecognizable. Gone is the polished charm of Virgin River’s Brady; in his place stands a man hardened by sun, loss, and violence. His weathered coat, bloodstained hat, and piercing stare evoke the tragic intensity of classic Western icons. Yet, as with Sheridan’s signature storytelling, Frontier’s End promises to subvert those familiar tropes. Boone isn’t a cowboy hero — he’s a man on the edge, grappling with faith, forgiveness, and the blurred morality of survival in a lawless age.

Hollingsworth’s performance, insiders say, is nothing short of revelatory. Those who’ve seen early footage describe him as “ferociously raw,” capturing both the brutality and vulnerability of a man shaped by the unforgiving West. The series reportedly balances large-scale action — gunfights, train robberies, and dusty frontier chases — with deep character study, exploring how trauma and isolation twist the human spirit. Boone’s journey mirrors the internal struggle that defined Kayce Dutton in Yellowstone, but with a historical lens that digs into the roots of American violence and redemption.

In preparation for the role, Hollingsworth immersed himself in Western history and horseback training, spending weeks at a real Texas ranch owned by the Sheridan production team. He also studied historical accounts of post-war lawmen to understand their conflicted roles in a fractured America. “These were men who carried ghosts on their shoulders,” he said. “They enforced laws written by the powerful, but they often knew justice was something different entirely. That’s what I wanted to explore — the cost of doing what’s right when the right thing destroys you.”

This newfound artistic depth reflects Hollingsworth’s broader evolution as a performer. Since his early days on Code Black and Suits, he’s been typecast as the good-looking rebel or the misunderstood lover. But in recent years, he’s actively sought roles that challenge expectations. His indie project Canopy Road — a psychological thriller about grief and guilt — earned critical praise for his restrained, emotionally layered performance. Now, with Frontier’s End, he’s entering territory few would have expected: a gritty Western epic that aims to balance old-school masculinity with modern introspection.

The supporting cast adds even more weight to the project. Molly Parker (Deadwood, House of Cards) stars as Abigail Boone, Elias’s estranged wife who becomes both his conscience and his curse. Jesse Plemons reportedly plays the mysterious outlaw Boone is sent to capture — a man who may not be entirely villainous after all. Meanwhile, Timothy Olyphant is rumored to appear in a guest role as a rival marshal whose loyalty to the law will be tested by Boone’s unorthodox methods.

Critics already predict Frontier’s End could do for Hollingsworth what Yellowstone did for Cole Hauser — taking a familiar face and giving him the breakout dramatic platform he deserves. The writing, described as “Shakespearean tragedy in cowboy boots,” explores universal questions of morality, family, and the meaning of redemption. Every character carries their own version of sin, and every act of violence leaves a scar that time cannot heal.

Thematically, the series draws clear parallels between the post-Civil War frontier and modern America. Much like Sheridan’s storytelling in 1883 and 1923, Frontier’s End uses the Western setting not as nostalgia, but as reflection — a mirror held up to the endless American struggle between freedom and consequence. Boone’s story isn’t just about one man’s journey through a violent world; it’s about how history repeats itself, and how the lines between justice and revenge remain forever blurred.

For Hollingsworth, this project also marks a personal milestone. After more than a decade in Hollywood, he’s stepping into a role that demands not only physical endurance but emotional truth. The actor recently shared that the series has changed how he views his craft: “On Virgin River, I learned how to play love. On Frontier’s End, I had to learn how to play loss — and to do that, you have to live inside it.”

As for the future, Frontier’s End could very well launch Hollingsworth into a new tier of stardom. Early buzz from Paramount insiders suggests the series might be positioned as a companion to Y: 1883 and 1923, expanding the interconnected world of Sheridan’s storytelling while introducing a fresh generation of Western heroes. And while official release details remain under wraps, the studio has already teased a late-2025 premiere, with plans for a multi-season arc if the show connects with audiences.

At its core, Benjamin Hollingsworth’s new chapter represents more than just a career pivot — it’s a declaration of artistic evolution. After years of being the charming face of comfort TV, he’s finally embracing the chaos, pain, and beauty of more challenging roles. With Frontier’s End, he’s stepping into the dust, ready to prove that beneath the polished smile lies an actor capable of breaking hearts — and maybe bones — in the name of storytelling.

As the trailer’s final image fades — Hollingsworth’s Boone standing alone against a burning horizon, whispering, “A man can’t outrun his past… but maybe he can face it” — it’s clear that Benjamin Hollingsworth’s new chapter isn’t just a role. It’s a reckoning. And it’s only just beginning.