The crime thriller “SOVEREIGN,” which comes out on July 11, 2025, is about extremism, a father’s conflict with his son, and a nation’s broken trust in authority. The movie is Christian Swegal‘s first time directing, and he also wrote the script.
Nick Offerman plays Jerry Kane and Jacob Tremblay plays Joe Kane. They are a father and son who are Sovereign Citizens, a group known for not accepting government authority. Their tense standoff with police, including Chief John Bouchard, played by Dennis Quaid, turns into an exciting manhunt.
LOOSELY BASED ON A TRUE STORY
Director Christian Swegal based SOVEREIGN on the real-life story of Jerry and Joe Kane, a father and son who were sovereign citizens involved in a violent incident with West Memphis police officers Brandon Paudert and Bill Evans in May 2010. The tragic event escalated when Jerry attacked an officer during a traffic stop, and Joe opened fire with an assault rifle. Both officers were killed, and the Kanes were later shot and killed during a standoff in a Walmart parking lot.
Deputy Hall is played by Terry J. Nelson, Mr. Friedman is played by Bobby Gilchrist, Kezia DaCosta is played by Megan Mullally—and Jess Bouchart is played by Ruby Wolf. Despite its intense and character-driven story, the film’s authentic backdrop grounds it. Let us take a look at the real places where SOVEREIGN was filmed.
WHERE WAS SOVEREIGN (2025) FILMED?
Filming for SOVEREIGN began in February 2024, with the production team setting up shop in Northwest Arkansas, a region that’s quickly becoming a favorite destination for filmmakers.
FAYETTEVILLE, ARKANSAS
The first stop for the crew was Fayetteville, home to the University of Arkansas. Principal photography officially kicked off here in early February 2024. Local sources spotted trucks unloading camera equipment outside Potter’s House, a popular Fayetteville location. The city’s urban yet small-town feel provided the perfect backdrop for several crucial sequences in the film.
One of the final scenes filmed in the Fiesta Square parking lot in late March. 2024. The spot, usually known for retail activity, was transformed into a dramatic backdrop for the film’s climactic moments.
In addition to production activity, cast sightings confirmed the film’s presence. Actor Dennis Quaid, who plays Chief John Bouchart in the movie, was spotted by fans in Fayetteville. According to KOAM News, two servers took selfies with Quaid at Whole Hog Cafe on North College Avenue—further confirming the film’s shoot in the area and generating local buzz.
Fayetteville’s vibrant local culture and architectural diversity likely contributed to its selection as a filming base. The town has previously been featured in HBO’s True Detective Season 3, which helped put it on the map for Hollywood scouts.
LINCOLN, ARKANSAS
From there, production moved to the nearby town of Lincoln, also located in Washington County. The Lincoln City Council officially approved the film crew’s request to use the Lincoln Square community building for several interior and exterior scenes. Filming occurred here also in February 2024.
A highlight of the shoot in Lincoln was the involvement of local schools. A group of teachers and students were invited to observe the production process up close—a rare opportunity that brought excitement to the small town.
SPRINGDALE, ARKANSAS
Filming then continued into March 2024 in Springdale, another Washington County city. The move was logistically convenient due to the close proximity of Fayetteville, Lincoln, and Springdale, making transportation and equipment shifts easier for the crew.
Springdale’s suburban neighborhoods and surrounding rural areas allowed the filmmakers to explore various locations without leaving the county. It’s likely that the more intense action sequences—especially those involving the manhunt—were filmed in Springdale’s less densely populated zones.
TACTICAL GUNS AND GEAR IN SOVEREIGN (2025): REAL SHOP OR FILM SET?
The gun store scene in SOVEREIGN appears to have been filmed on a custom-built set designed to closely resemble real firearm retailers in Northwest Arkansas. The interior—featuring rifles displayed on walls, glass counters, and utilitarian lighting—mirrors layouts commonly seen at shops like NWA Tactical & Range in Rogers, Mountain Man Supplies & Pawn in Fayetteville, and Sturm’s Indoor Gun Range in Springdale.
Behind-the-scenes photos revealed signage reading “TACTICAL Guns and Gear,” suggesting a pivotal scene may have taken place inside or outside this constructed location. While a real store by that name exists in Collierville, Tennessee, it remains unclear whether the name was used for realism or simply created for the film. Based on available information, it’s likely the production team built a fictional storefront inspired by actual shops to support the story’s narrative, rather than filming inside an existing Arkansas business.
WHY ARKANSAS?
All three locations—Fayetteville, Lincoln, and Springdale—are part of Washington County, which provided a unified, scenic, and cost-effective area for the film’s production. The natural beauty and architectural range of these Arkansas towns made them ideal stand-ins for the narrative’s unfolding drama.
In an interview, Nick Moceri explained the production’s decision to film in Northwest Arkansas:
“There’s just been a lot of things that have filmed here and so we felt like there was a good crew and resource base… and just a great variety of locations to film and tell the story.”
In recent years, Arkansas has emerged as a viable alternative to more expensive production hubs like Atlanta or Los Angeles. Films like Mindcage (2021) starring Martin Lawrence and What Happens Later with Meg Ryan were also shot in the area. HBO’s True Detective further solidified Northwest Arkansas as a reliable shooting destination.
OFFICIAL TRAILER
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