‘The Last Frontier’: Jon Bokenkamp’s New Apple TV+ Thriller Channels Classic ’90s Action Energy

A sleepy Alaskan town. A downed aircraft filled with dangerous convicts. A U.S. Marshal with nothing left to lose. That’s the starting line for The Last Frontier, the new Apple TV+ action series from The Blacklist creator Jon Bokenkamp — a show that aims to resurrect the unapologetic, high-stakes thrillers of the 1990s for modern audiences.

Set to premiere October 10, The Last Frontier is a gritty, fast-paced survival story built around raw tension and human resilience — and, according to its creators, a deliberate throwback to the era of muscle, grit, and moral ambiguity that once dominated action cinema.

“The show is Con Air meets The Fugitive,” Bokenkamp says with a grin over Zoom. “We wanted to capture that adrenaline rush from those old-school, high-concept thrillers. It’s grounded, emotional, and full of heart — but at its core, it’s a wild, pulpy thrill ride.”

A Modern Take on Old-School Action

At the center of the story is Frank Remnick, played by Jason Clarke (Oppenheimer, Zero Dark Thirty). Remnick is a near-retired U.S. Marshal who’s spent years in quiet solitude at his post in a small Alaskan suburb. His world is turned upside down when a federal transport plane carrying 50 convicts crashes just outside town.

Suddenly, the sleepy community becomes the stage for a sprawling manhunt across frozen tundra and rugged wilderness. Remnick, who Bokenkamp describes as “blue-collar and modest but haunted by his own obsolescence,” must track down every escaped prisoner — one by one — before chaos consumes the town.

“He’s an old-school lawman in a world that’s moved on,” says Clarke, who also serves as an executive producer. “Frank isn’t flashy — he’s stubborn, flawed, and utterly human. That’s what makes his journey interesting. You’re not watching a superhero; you’re watching a man trying to keep control as everything unravels.”

Behind the Scenes: Action Meets Authenticity

Alongside Bokenkamp and Clarke, the series brings on Sam Hargrave, the director behind Netflix’s Extraction films, as executive producer and action coordinator. His signature blend of realism and intensity ensures that The Last Frontier’s chase sequences and fight scenes feel visceral and immediate.

“Sam brings the grit,” Bokenkamp says. “He knows how to stage action that feels both cinematic and believable. Every punch lands. Every explosion matters. But there’s always a human cost behind it.”

Hargrave’s influence is felt across the eight-episode series, from close-quarters combat scenes to long-take pursuit sequences filmed on location in rugged, snow-blanketed terrain. The production team emphasized practical effects and real stunts over CGI, giving The Last Frontier a tangible, old-school feel.

A Story of Survival — and Secrets

But the show isn’t just about gunfights and chases. Beneath its surface, The Last Frontier explores themes of aging, relevance, and redemption. As Remnick races against time to round up the convicts, a darker subplot begins to unfold.

The CIA, too, has an interest in the wreckage — and as federal agents descend on the town, it becomes clear that not all of the escaped prisoners are what they seem. A classified operation, a secret cargo, and a shadowy cover-up emerge as Remnick digs deeper.

“It’s not just about catching the bad guys,” Clarke explains. “It’s about discovering why the plane went down in the first place — and what was really on it. There’s a political undercurrent to the story, but it’s told through the eyes of this one man who just refuses to quit.”

A Throwback Feel for a Streaming World

Bokenkamp, best known for creating NBC’s long-running thriller The Blacklist, sees The Last Frontier as both a nostalgic homage and a creative evolution.

“When we were making The Blacklist, it was all about intrigue and intellect,” he says. “This show is more visceral. It’s about instinct, survival, and physical stakes. It’s closer to Die Hard or The Fugitive than a procedural mystery.”

The decision to set the series in Alaska adds both atmosphere and isolation — the landscape itself becomes an antagonist. Filming in sub-zero temperatures and unpredictable weather, the production leaned heavily on natural light and on-location shooting to immerse viewers in the stark beauty of the setting.

Apple TV+ Bets on Action

For Apple TV+, The Last Frontier represents another confident step into original genre programming. Following recent hits like Hijack with Idris Elba and Slow Horses starring Gary Oldman, the streamer continues to expand its portfolio with projects that combine spectacle and strong character work.

Early buzz around The Last Frontier suggests it could become one of the service’s flagship fall titles — a mix of heart, tension, and throwback grit that bridges nostalgia with modern storytelling polish.

As for Clarke, who anchors the series with both gravitas and weariness, the role feels like a career-defining turn. “Frank Remnick isn’t a hero,” he says. “He’s a man fighting against time, against himself, and against a system that’s already written him off. That’s what makes him real.”