Why the Homestead Series is Capturing Audiences Worldwide
The homestead series has emerged as one of the most talked-about survival dramas of 2024, blending post-apocalyptic thrills with deep questions about faith and community. This unique franchise spans both a theatrical film and streaming series, creating an immersive experience that follows survivors navigating moral dilemmas in a nuclear-devastated world.
Quick Facts About the Homestead Series:
- Release Date: December 20, 2024 (first two episodes)
- Where to Watch: Angel Studios platform (Guild members only)
- Genre: Post-apocalyptic drama with faith themes
- Cast: Bailey Chase, Charles Esten, Dawn Olivieri, Jill Wagner
- Based On: Black Autumn novel series by Jeff Kirkham and Jason Ross
- Rating: TV-14
- Season 2: Already renewed before Season 1 completion
The series continues directly from the Homestead film, which grossed over $20 million domestically. What sets this project apart is its viewer-funded model through Angel Studios’ Guild system, where fans directly support production costs and vote on future content.
The central premise follows ex-Green Beret Jeff Eriksson and his family as they seek refuge in a prepper’s mountain fortress after a nuclear bomb devastates Los Angeles. As resources dwindle and outside threats mount, the survivors face a crucial question: “Are they an ark or a fortress?”
As R. Couri Hay, I’ve covered countless entertainment launches throughout my four decades in media and public relations, but the homestead series represents something unique in today’s streaming landscape – a faith-driven, community-funded drama that’s redefining how audiences engage with storytelling.
Simple guide to * homestead series*:
What Is Homestead: The Series?
The homestead series begins with the Black Autumn novels by Jeff Kirkham and Jason Ross, exploring how faith and community survive when civilization crumbles. Angel Studios brought this material to life through both a movie and series, allowing the story to unfold across multiple formats.
Ben Kasica, former guitarist for Christian rock band Skillet, stepped into the role of co-creator, bringing a unique perspective to the faith-based elements. Bailey Chase takes on the challenging role of Jeff Eriksson, the ex-Green Beret who finds himself reluctantly leading survivors. STREAM NOW to see how he steers the complex moral landscape of post-apocalyptic survival.
The homestead series sets itself apart from typical end-of-the-world entertainment by focusing on internal conflicts rather than external monsters. Instead of zombies or aliens, the real tension comes from watching good people struggle with impossible choices.
How the Homestead Movie Leads Into the Homestead Series
The transition from film to series is remarkably smooth. The movie doesn’t really end – it pauses with a deliberate cliffhanger that sets up the series’ central conflicts. The film focuses on getting the Eriksson family to safety after Los Angeles is destroyed, while the series picks up exactly where it leaves off.
The series opens up to explore the broader community of survivors, with episodic format allowing for deeper character development and more complex moral dilemmas. This expanded scope gives viewers a fuller picture of the post-apocalyptic world while maintaining the intimate character focus.
Key Differences Between Film & Series
While the film centers on the Eriksson family’s journey, the series explores the backstories and motivations of other survivors in greater detail. The series also ventures beyond the mountain fortress to show how other communities are surviving, and has time to dig into the theological questions that drive the story.
The ensemble focus means supporting characters get their moments to shine, and the series can really explore what it means to be “an ark or a fortress” in practice.
Story, Characters & Cast Deep Dive
The homestead series drops viewers into a world forever changed by nuclear devastation. When a bomb detonates off the coast of Los Angeles, ex-Green Beret Jeff Eriksson leads his family to a prepper compound in the Rocky Mountains.
The compound becomes a pressure cooker where moral dilemmas test every relationship. The ensemble cast brings remarkable depth to these questions. Charles Esten delivers a powerful performance as a community elder whose faith gets tested, while Dawn Olivieri portrays a mother whose fierce protection reveals both the best and most dangerous aspects of human nature.
Antagonist factions emerge both from within the compound and outside. Some survivors believe in fortress mentality – protect your own at all costs. Others push for an ark approach – save as many as possible. This philosophical divide creates the series’ most compelling dramatic tension.
Main Characters in the Homestead Series
Jeff Eriksson stands at the center of every major decision. Bailey Chase brings both physical presence and emotional vulnerability, showing how military training prepares you for combat but not necessarily for leading desperate civilians.
Emma Eriksson represents the civilian perspective that grounds the series. While Jeff thinks tactically, Emma focuses on maintaining humanity in an inhuman situation.
Sam Dorsey emerges as a key figure whose challenges to Jeff’s leadership create necessary dramatic tension, representing democratic ideals clashing with military efficiency.
Supporting Players & New Faces in Season 1
Jill Wagner joins as a survivor whose medical expertise makes her invaluable to the community. Her character brings both life-saving skills and personal trauma that adds complexity to group dynamics.
Jesse Hutch portrays one of the compound’s original residents, providing crucial continuity with the prepper community that existed before disaster struck. The series introduces community elders who represent different philosophical approaches to leadership and resource management.
How, Where & When to Watch the Homestead Series
Getting access to the homestead series requires joining Angel Studios’ exclusive Guild membership system, which launched the first two episodes on December 20, 2024. This isn’t your typical streaming release – it’s a community-driven approach where viewers become stakeholders in the content they love.
The Angel Guild membership does more than just open up episodes. Members get voting rights on future projects, early access to content, and the satisfaction of knowing their monthly contribution directly funds production. It’s like being part of a creative collective rather than just another subscriber. GET TICKETS to join this unique viewing experience.
Watching is simple once you’re in the Guild. The Angel TV app works on practically every device you own – from your living room Roku or Apple TV to your Samsung smart TV or Xbox gaming console. The mobile apps for iPhone and Android mean you can catch up on episodes during your commute or while traveling.
The global availability sets this apart from region-locked streaming services. Whether you’re in New York or New Zealand, Guild membership gives you the same access to the homestead series and Angel Studios’ entire catalog.
Current & Upcoming Episodes of Homestead: The Series
Right now, only Episodes 1 and 2 are available to stream, creating an unusual viewing situation that’s both frustrating and intriguing. The remaining six episodes of Season 1 won’t arrive until Fall 2025 – a gap that resulted from Utah’s harsh winter weather shutting down production.
Episode 3 has been teased through behind-the-scenes footage that promises more intense action and deeper exploration of the compound’s fractured leadership. The creators have been transparent about the delays, using the extra time to ensure each episode meets their quality standards rather than rushing to meet arbitrary deadlines.
This extended wait has actually built anticipation among the Guild community. Fans are discussing theories, analyzing every detail from the first two episodes, and participating in live Q&A sessions with cast members. It’s turned the viewing experience into something more interactive than traditional binge-watching.
Accessing Bonus Content & Homestead: Family Survival
The companion docuseries “Homestead: Family Survival” offers practical survival tips alongside the dramatic entertainment. Real homesteading families share their experiences with food storage, water purification, and sustainable living – knowledge that feels increasingly relevant in our uncertain world.
Behind-the-scenes livestreams give Guild members unprecedented access to the creative process. Cast members regularly host Q&A sessions, producers share production challenges, and writers discuss how they adapt the Black Autumn novels for television. These extras create a deeper connection between creators and audience.
The app extras include production diaries, deleted scenes, and cast interviews that provide context for character decisions and plot developments. For dedicated fans, these bonus materials often prove as engaging as the main episodes themselves.
Big Themes: Faith, Community & Survival Under Fire
The homestead series distinguishes itself by asking profound questions about human nature under extreme stress. The central question – “Are they an ark or a fortress?” – explores whether the compound exists to preserve life and values or simply to defend against threats.
This theological framework lifts the series beyond typical survival drama. Characters regularly grapple with questions of servant leadership, moral courage, and hope amid chaos, suggesting that physical survival without moral and spiritual survival is ultimately meaningless.
How Homestead Balances Action With Spiritual Reflection
Rather than relegating faith themes to occasional dialogue, the homestead series integrates spiritual reflection into action sequences and survival challenges. Characters pray before dangerous missions and wrestle with questions of divine providence in catastrophe.
The series shows prayer circles alongside tactical drills, suggesting that spiritual preparation is as important as physical readiness. This balance appeals to faith-based audiences while avoiding preachy dialogue that might alienate secular viewers.
Lessons on Resilience Viewers Can Apply Today
Beyond entertainment, the homestead series offers practical insights into community building, resource management, and moral leadership. The series emphasizes food storage, skill sharing, and mutual aid as foundations of community survival, while characters model moral courage by making difficult decisions that prioritize community welfare over individual comfort.
Production Insider: Funding, Filming & Future Seasons
When heavy Utah snow brought filming to a complete halt after just two episodes, the homestead series production team learned about the unpredictability that makes their show so compelling. Skies Fall Media Group had to get creative with their $5 million budget while dealing with Salt Lake City’s winter weather.
What could have been a disaster became a testament to the show’s unique funding model. Instead of traditional studio backing, the homestead series relies on its passionate fanbase through Angel Studios’ innovative approach. Angel Studios greenlit Season 2 before Season 1 was even complete, with filming scheduled for summer 2025.
The Role of the Angel Guild in Keeping Cameras Rolling
The Angel Guild represents something genuinely unique in entertainment funding. Instead of relying on corporate executives, the homestead series gets financial backing from viewers who believe in the project enough to put their money where their remote control is.
Guild members can contribute as little as $1 toward production costs while gaining real voting rights on future projects. This isn’t just crowdfunding – it’s collaborative filmmaking where fans become genuine stakeholders. The “pay-it-forward” feature allows generous viewers to fund access for others who can’t afford membership.
Season 2 & Beyond: What Creators Have Teased
Season 2 promises expanded world-building that will show how other communities are surviving the nuclear aftermath. The production team has hinted at potential for an eight-season arc, suggesting they have deep storytelling possibilities mapped out for rebuilding civilization and watching communities evolve under extreme stress.
Reception & Impact So Far
The homestead series has sparked fascinating conversations across entertainment circles. The series holds a 5.9/10 rating on IMDb from 301 user reviews, while the original film scored 5.4/10. Critics have been more cautious, with Rotten Tomatoes showing 41% positive reviews for the film.
The film’s $20 million domestic box office performance exceeded expectations, especially considering its modest $5 million budget. The CinemaScore B grade and 85% positive response on PostTrak reveal the gap between professional critics and general audiences.
Social media buzz has been particularly vibrant in faith-based communities, where viewers are celebrating the series’ thoughtful approach to spiritual themes.
What Critics Are Saying About Homestead: The Series
Professional critics have offered mixed assessments. The religious content has proven divisive – some appreciate how naturally faith themes integrate into the survival narrative, while others find the spiritual elements heavy-handed.
Bailey Chase’s lead performance has earned consistent critical praise, and the Utah locations and cinematography have been universally acclaimed. Critics have generally welcomed the episodic format for allowing deeper character development.
Audience Reactions & Community Engagement
Audience response has been notably warmer than critical reception, particularly within the Angel Guild community. Online forums have evolved into active communities discussing both entertainment and practical survival topics.
Prepper communities have acceptd the series for its realistic portrayal of survival scenarios and group dynamics, often focusing on the accuracy of resource management and security protocols.
Frequently Asked Questions about Homestead: The Series
How many Homestead episodes are out now?
Right now, you can watch two episodes of the homestead series, both released on December 20, 2024. I know it’s frustrating to have just a taste of this compelling drama, but there’s a good reason for the limited release.
The production team hit an unexpected snag when Utah’s harsh winter weather shut down filming after completing only the first two episodes. Rather than rush through production or compromise quality, Angel Studios decided to take the time needed to deliver the full vision.
The remaining episodes of Season 1 are scheduled to drop in Fall 2025. While that seems like a long wait, the creators are using this time to ensure the series maintains the high production values and thoughtful storytelling that made the first two episodes so engaging.
Is the series suitable for family viewing?
The homestead series carries a TV-14 rating, which means it’s designed for viewers 14 and older. As someone who’s covered family entertainment for decades, I’d say this rating is appropriate and honest about the content.
The series doesn’t shy away from the harsh realities of survival in a post-apocalyptic world. You’ll see intense situations where characters face life-or-death decisions, some violence related to defending the compound, and mature themes about loss and moral compromise. However, the content isn’t gratuitously graphic or exploitative.
What sets this series apart is how it handles these mature themes. The violence serves the story rather than existing for shock value, and the moral dilemmas are presented in ways that encourage thoughtful discussion. Many families with teenagers have found it opens meaningful conversations about preparedness, community, and faith.
Parents should consider whether younger children can handle the emotional intensity and post-apocalyptic themes. The series deals with the aftermath of nuclear disaster, which might be frightening for sensitive viewers regardless of age.
Has Homestead been renewed for additional seasons?
Yes, and this is where the story gets exciting! Angel Studios has already renewed the homestead series for Season 2, even before Season 1 was completely finished. This early renewal shows remarkable confidence in the property and demonstrates their commitment to the Angel Guild community that funds production.
The creators have been even more ambitious in their long-term vision. They’ve indicated potential for up to eight seasons, suggesting they have a comprehensive story arc planned that could explore years of post-apocalyptic survival and community building.
Season 2 is scheduled to begin filming in summer 2025, with episodes expected to release in late 2025 or early 2026. The production team has hinted at expanded world-building that will show how other communities are surviving the nuclear aftermath, giving viewers a broader perspective on this post-apocalyptic world.
This multi-season commitment reflects the unique funding model through Angel Studios’ Guild system, where viewer support directly enables continued production. It’s a fascinating example of how passionate fan communities can sustain storytelling that might not find a home in traditional network or streaming models.
Conclusion
The homestead series has carved out a unique place in today’s entertainment landscape, proving that thoughtful storytelling can thrive outside traditional studio systems. After four decades covering entertainment, I’ve rarely seen a project that so successfully combines compelling drama with genuine community building.
What makes this series special isn’t just its post-apocalyptic action or faith-based themes – it’s how the Angel Guild model transforms viewers into actual stakeholders in the creative process. The series tackles questions that feel increasingly relevant: How do we maintain our values when everything falls apart? What do we owe each other when resources are scarce?
Critics may debate the pacing, but the audience response tells a different story. People are hungry for content that treats big questions seriously while delivering genuine entertainment. The homestead series manages to be both thrilling survival drama and thoughtful exploration of what it means to be human under pressure.
The financial success of this viewer-funded model could reshape how independent creators approach storytelling. When audiences directly support projects they believe in, creators get artistic freedom and viewers get content that speaks to their values.
Whether you’re drawn to the survival action, community dynamics, or deeper questions about faith and leadership, this series offers something substantial. As we wait for the remaining episodes in Fall 2025, the homestead series has already proven its point – great storytelling doesn’t need massive budgets, just creators who care about their craft and audiences willing to support meaningful content.
For more insights into the cultural phenomena shaping our world, explore our columns to see how R. Couri Hay continues providing insider perspectives on the stories that matter most.