“Becoming Billy – An Outriding the Devil Origin Story” to Premiere at Historic Mescal Movie Set
Country Lifestyles
BENSON, AZ – Tombstone. The Outlaw Josey Wales. Tom Horn. The Quick and the Dead. The names alone evoke the smell of gunpowder and the creak of saddle leather. These legendary films share a common home: the Mescal Movie Set. Known as “silver screen hallowed ground,” this iconic location has hosted the giants of cinema for decades. But on April 18, 2026, Mescal will do something it has never done before: host a worldwide film premiere.
As the sun sets over the Rincon Mountains, history and myth will collide for the debut of Becoming Billy – An Outriding the Devil Origin Story. This immersive evening blends cinematic history, frontier lore, and live country music into a one-of-a-kind Western experience.
A Cowboy Who Knows Arizona Soil
Leading the charge is a rodeo-athlete-turned-country music star, a man who is no stranger to the Arizona heat or the grit of the West. Fresh off a powerhouse weekend in the Grand Canyon State, Chancey Williams comes to Mescal following packed-house performances at the historic Orpheum Theater in Flagstaff and a sun-soaked “Party in the Desert” at the Flying E Ranch in Wickenburg.
Williams’ transition to the big screen is a natural evolution. Williams isn’t just playing a role; he’s living the life. As a former saddle bronc rider and a recent inductee into the Cheyenne Frontier Days Hall of Fame, Chancey is one of only two artists (alongside the legendary Chris LeDoux) to have both competed in the rodeo and headlined the main stage at the “Daddy ‘of ’em All.” Now, he adds “Sheriff” to his resume, making his big-screen debut as Sheriff Harvey Whitehill.
Incorporating source material from esteemed Western historian Bob Boze Bell of True West Magazine, Becoming Billy journeys back to 1875. How did Henry McCarty, an orphaned Irish kid of little repute and fewer prospects, become known to history as Billy the Kid? Becoming Billy provides the answer.
An All-Star Western Cast
Directed by multi-award winner Raen LeVell (Buffalo Daze), the film features:
- Chancey Williams as Sheriff Harvey Whitehill
- Roberta Sparta (Star Wars/Obi-Wan Kenobi) as Sarah Brown
- Golden Garnick (1923) as the young Billy the Kid
The film also pays creative homage to Val Kilmer, a Mescal alumnus whose performance in Tombstone remains the gold standard for the genre.
Best known for his authentic Wyoming sound and roots in the rodeo arena, the premiere event will also feature a special acoustic performance from Williams, giving fans a chance to experience both sides of his artistry in one unforgettable evening under the desert sky at the epicenter of Western movie history.
A Western Story
Becoming Billy is part of the Outriding the Devil franchise. Described as “Masterful” by the Houston Chronicle on its recent Texas premiere tour swing, the critically acclaimed documentary features arguably the most inspirational comeback in rodeo history. The fulcrum of this unapologetically “Western” story of faith, family, and rodeo is world champion barrel racer and Texas Rodeo Hall of Famer, Angela Ganter, who overcame Stage 4 breast cancer and, as she says, went from “death’s door to the winner’s circle” upon her remarkable return to rodeo.
This modern epic of the Western genre blazes a trail from frontier Texas when the Comanches were the undisputed Lords of the Plains and Ganter’s great-grandparents were among the first pioneer ranchers on the Brazos, onto the founders of the great cattle trails north and the titans of ranching, through to the evolution and development of rodeo. Ganter’s heritage is the tie that binds and leads us to join her on the rodeo trail and arrive at Cheyenne Frontier Days after she defeats cancer.
The scope of the movie provides an intriguing canvas for Yellowstone “universe” stars Mo Brings Plenty, Forrie J. Smith, and Eric Nelsen to share the screen with the superstars of rodeo. One of those, 10X world champion Stetson Wright, is coming off another high-octane performance at Rodeo Houston, where he won the shootout and ride-off to take the Saddle Bronc Riding Championship.
Becoming Billy again showcases that Outriding the Devil is about more than Angela Ganter’s grit and courage to defy cancer and make a miraculous return to pro rodeo.
Captivated by the allure of a new horizon, Ganter’s grandfather, Mack Campbell, moved from West Texas to the New Mexico Territory. As the frontier closed and the Twentieth Century gathered pace, Mack Campbell became one of the most influential ranchers and Quarter horse breeders in New Mexico. From what became known as “Billy the Kid Country” to Carlsbad Caverns – which Campbell had a hand in discovering – Mack left an indelible mark on New Mexico and Western heritage. Mack and Billy have that in common, but unlike Billy, Mack didn’t die young or consign others to that fate.
“Mack Campbell became a legend in the same territory with cattle and Quarter horses for decades after Billy’s demise,” explains Forrie J. Smith. “The Scottish kid arrived with a plan. If the Irish kid ever had one, it changed after this,” he says, referring to the events of Becoming Billy.
An Immersive Evening in the High Desert – The Lowdown:
This isn’t just a screening; it’s an all-access pass to the world of film and Western Heritage. The event schedule includes:
5:00 PM | Gates Open: Guests can explore the hallowed grounds of the Mescal Movie Set with self-guided tours. Walk in the footsteps of Clint Eastwood, Paul Newman, Steve McQueen, Sam Elliott, Gene Hackman, Kurt Russell and Leo DiCaprio, to name just a few.
Saloon Meet & Greet: Head over to the set’s saloon, the unforgettable backdrop for many of Sharon Stone’s pivotal scenes in The Quick and the Dead, to meet the cast, including headliner Chancey Williams.
7:00 PM | The Premiere of Becoming Billy, followed by a panel discussion with the filmmakers and cast – which include screenings of “Quanah” and “Angela” – the two historical dramatizations filmed at Mescal that feature in Outriding the Devil.
8:00 PM | Special Acoustic Performance by Chancey Williams: To cap off the night, Chancey Williams will take the stage for a solo acoustic concert, blending his authentic cowboy roots with his signature Wyoming sound.
“We want to transport the audience back into Billy’s world, if only for a moment in their collective imagination,” says writer/director Raen LeVell. “Hosting the premiere at Mescal, followed by Chancey’s performance, makes this a true celebration of Western storytelling. It’s an overused phrase, but this really is a once-in-a-lifetime experience.”
Ticket and Event Information:
Tickets are limited for this exclusive engagement. Secure your spot on the trail at the link below:
April 18th, 2026
Mescal Movie Set
1538 N. Mescal Rd
Benson, AZ 85602
5:00 PM – 9:00 PM
“I am super excited to see this film! It’s the perfect blend of rodeo heart and cinematic history.”
Patrick O’Donnell
CEO Cowboy Lifestyle Network
Mescal Movie Set
The world‐famous Mescal Movie Set, an iconic 1880s Western town surrounded by the high desert plains of Southeast Arizona and the Rincon Mountains, is once again taking center stage as a premier filming location and cultural landmark.
With a cinematic history spanning more than 70 years, the Mescal area first appeared on screen in classics such as Winchester ’73 starring Jimmy Stewart, The Big Country with Gregory Peck, and Cimarron featuring Glenn Ford. The permanent town set was constructed in 1968–1969 for Monte Walsh, starring Lee Marvin and Jack Palance, and quickly became one of the most recognizable Western backdrops in film history.
Over the decades, Mescal hosted a remarkable succession of productions, including The Life and Times of Judge Roy Bean starring Paul Newman, The Outlaw Josey Wales with Clint Eastwood, and Tom Horn featuring Steve McQueen. In the 1990s, the set gained renewed prominence with major studio productions such as Tombstone starring Kurt Russell, Val Kilmer, Sam Elliott, Charlton Heston, and narration by Robert Mitchum, which went on to become a cult classic and one of the most quoted Western films of all time. The Quick and the Dead soon followed, featuring Sharon Stone, Russell Crowe, Gene Hackman, and Leonardo DiCaprio.
Don’t miss your chance to see a world premiere at the most famous Western set in the world.
Last Updated on 04/02/2026 by Jodi Erpelding
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