Max’s Duster Brings 1970s Grit, Getaway Cars, and High Stakes to TV: What To Know
- Damian Ali
- Apr 23
- 2 min read
Updated: May 5
From Lost’s Josh Holloway to Emmy-nominated director Steph Green, here’s what to know about the new Max series Duster, a Southwest-set crime drama with serious creative firepower.
Josh Holloway as Jim and Rachel Hilson as Nina in the MAX series Duster premiering May 2025: Image Courtesy of Ursula Coyote/Max
Set in the dusty chaos of 1970s Southwest America, Duster follows a getaway driver caught between loyalty and survival as a crime syndicate spins out of control. Josh Holloway (Lost) stars as Jim, a driver-for-hire whose life gets even messier when a determined federal agent, played by Rachel Hilson (Love, Victor), arrives to bring his crew down.
Premiering May 15, this eight-episode Max Original drama is J.J. Abrams’ first series at Max. New episodes will roll out weekly, pairing vintage grit with modern edge thanks to a team known for high-impact storytelling.
Duster is co-created by Abrams and Shameless alum LaToya Morgan — both known for mixing action with emotional depth. Morgan, who also co-executive produced Into the Badlands, once shared that her love of genre storytelling began with The Twilight Zone marathons she watched as a kid. “Richard Matheson and Charles Beaumont wrote episodes that stole my heart and made me think,” she told Film Fest Magazine.
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The first two episodes are directed by Steph Green, whose work on Watchmen earned her an Emmy nomination. She’s since tackled The Americans, Ahsoka, and The Book of Boba Fett, making her no stranger to stylized, story-rich TV.
Josh Holloway as Jim and Keith David as Ezra in the MAX series Duster premiering May 2025: Image Courtesy of Ursula Coyote/Max
Duster recreates its 1970s crime setting with scenes shot in downtown Tucson, Arizona, and Pima County, including City Hall. Additional production took place in New Mexico, employing locals to help shape the show’s gritty, lived-in look.
According to the New Mexico Film Office, the production employed more than 4,000 New Mexicans, consisting of different background talents, 350 resident crew members, and 50 principal actors; a meaningful investment in the local community and in grounding the series with regional realism.
From the trailer, you get that dusty, desert-noir vibe — and a feeling that Duster has breakout potential. With a creative team known for pushing genre boundaries, this May's ride could be more than just another crime drama. Anchored by a classic Plymouth Duster as its hero car, the series teases speed, sharp tension, and a few emotional wrecks along the way — all wrapped in a retro style that somehow still feels fresh.
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