Becoming Billy Premier & Chancey Williams Concert

Becoming Billy – An Outriding the Devil Origin Story

World Premiere at the Historic Mescal Movie Set

The Mescal Movie Set has been the backdrop for legends — Tombstone, The Outlaw Josey Wales, Tom Horn, The Life and Times of Judge Roy Bean, The Quick and the Dead. For decades, its dusty streets and weathered boardwalks have shaped the mythology of the American West.

Now, for the first time in its storied history, Mescal will host a film premiere.

On April 18, Becoming Billy – An Outriding the Devil Origin Story makes its worldwide debut on the very set where it was filmed, anchoring an immersive evening of cinema, history, and live music.

About the Film

Drawing from the work of acclaimed Western historian Bob Boze Bell of True West Magazine, Becoming Billy travels back to 1875 to explore a pivotal question:

How did Henry McCarty — an orphaned Irish kid with few prospects — become the legendary Billy the Kid?

The film delivers a gripping answer.

Starring:

• Chancey Williams (rodeo champion turned country music star) in his big‑screen debut as Sheriff Harvey Whitehill
• Roberta Sparta (Star Wars: Obi‑Wan Kenobi) as Sarah Brown
• Golden Garnick (1923) as Henry/Billy

Directed by multi‑award‑winning filmmaker Raen LeVell (Buffalo Daze), the film’s intimate, character‑driven style honors both the iconic location and the legends who walked it. One of those legends, Val Kilmer, receives a creative tribute within the short.

Becoming Billy is part of the Outriding the Devil franchise — hailed as “Masterful” by the Houston Chronicle and “An unbelievable true story” by Sports Illustrated. The documentary premiered to acclaim at the National Finals Rodeo and chronicles one of the most inspirational comebacks in rodeo history.

At its heart is Angela Ganter, world champion barrel racer and Texas Rodeo Hall of Famer, who fought through Stage 4 breast cancer and returned from “death’s door to the winner’s circle.”

“Outriding the Devil is no ordinary movie. It’s the most amazing true story,” says Mo Brings Plenty (Yellowstone, Marshals), who appears in the film. “It has an incredible cast — PRCA world champions and Yellowstone universe cast members.”

The film features:

• Stetson Wright (10X PRCA World Champion)
• Bob Tallman (ProRodeo Hall of Famer)
• Shad “Money” Mayfield, Ky Hamilton, Zeke Thurston (PRCA World Champions)
• Fallon Taylor (WPRA World Champion)
• Rusty Wright (current #1 saddle bronc rider)

Narration is provided by Forrie J. Smith (Yellowstone), a Mescal Movie Set veteran.
Additional cast includes Eric Nelsen (1883), Eddie Spears (Into the West, Hell on Wheels), and country artist Ned LeDoux.
The soundtrack features Grammy‑nominated artist Radney Foster.

The story also connects to the legacy of Angela Ganter’s grandfather, Mack Campbell, a pioneering New Mexico rancher and Quarter Horse breeder whose life intersected with the very territory Billy the Kid once roamed.

An Immersive Evening in the High Desert

This isn’t just a screening — it’s a full Western heritage experience.

5:00 PM – Gates Open

Explore the legendary Mescal Movie Set with self‑guided tours. Walk where Clint Eastwood, Paul Newman, Steve McQueen, Sam Elliott, Gene Hackman, Kurt Russell, and Leonardo DiCaprio once stood.
Saloon Meet & Greet

Visit the iconic saloon from The Quick and the Dead and meet the cast, including headliner Chancey Williams.

7:00 PM – The Main Event

Premiere screening of Becoming Billy, followed by a panel discussion with the filmmakers and cast.
Includes screenings of “Quanah” and “Angela”, the two historical dramatizations filmed at Mescal for Outriding the Devil.

8:00 PM – Acoustic Performance

Chancey Williams closes the night with an intimate acoustic concert, blending authentic cowboy roots with his signature Wyoming sound.

“We wanted to transport the audience back into Billy’s world,” says writer/director Raen LeVell. “Hosting the premiere at Mescal, followed by Chancey’s performance, makes this a true celebration of Western storytelling — a once‑in‑a‑lifetime experience.”

Ticket Information

Tickets are limited for this exclusive engagement.
Secure your spot on the trail:

Tickets: becomingbillypremier.eventbrite.com

Event Details

Date: April 18, 2026
Location: Mescal Movie Set, Benson, AZ
Time: 5:00 PM – 9:00 PM

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Mescal Movie Set, 1538 N. Mescal Road, Benson, United States

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