Academy Award nominee Matt Dillon (Crash) has finally found his first major TV project in a long while, after leading M. Night Shyamalan’s 2015 series Wayward Pines. The acclaimed actor has been tapped to portray the character, Chris Adams, in MGM+‘s upcoming series adaptation of The Magnificent Seven, a reimagining of the classic 1960 Western film. The character was famously played by Academy Award winner Yul Brynner in the original movie, based on Akira Kurosawa’s 1954 Japanese film Seven Samurai.
“Chris Adams is the leader of seven gunslingers who sign onto the task of protecting a group of innocent villagers from a mercenary land baron hellbent on stealing their land,” reads the character description for Chris Adams. “Stoic, steady under pressure, and with an unflinching gaze that does most of the talking for him, Chris has no patience for hypocrisy or cruelty and holds fast to a quiet moral code rooted in fairness and restraint.”
What do we know about Matt Dillon’s The Magnificent Seven series?
“Set in the tumultuous 1880s American frontier, The Magnificent Seven follows seven gifted but flawed mercenaries hired to protect a peaceful Quaker village after it is massacred by mercenaries working for a ruthless land baron trying to seize their land,” reads the official synopsis. “As the team embeds itself and prepares to defend against overwhelming odds, they grapple with a central question: Is violence acceptable to defend people whose faith is based on non-violence? The series explores the backstories of each of the Seven, what’s at stake for them, and why they choose this mission—delving into themes of honor, sacrifice, redemption, morality, and faith.”
The series is written and executive produced by Tim Kring (Heroes, Touch, Dig, Crossing Jordan). Production is expected to begin in June 2026 in Calgary. In addition to leading the cast, Dillon will also be serving as an executive producer. The modern remake is also executive-produced by Donald De Line, Lawrence Mirisch, and Bruce Kaufman. It is a production by MGM+ Studios and MGM Television Studios.
“Matt Dillon brings extraordinary depth and gravitas to this iconic role,” MGM+ executive Michael Wright said in a statement. “His ability to portray complex, morally conflicted characters makes him the perfect choice to lead our reimagining of The Magnificent Seven. This series honors the legacy of the original film while exploring timeless themes about courage, redemption, and standing up against oppression—and Matt’s performance will be at the heart of that story.”
