BUZZ BEAT MEDIA

In his latest film The Last Rodeo, Neal McDonough returns to the screen with a deeply personal and faith-filled performance. Best known for his roles in Minority Report, The Flash, and Yellowstone, the veteran actor now steps into the boots of Joe Wainwright—a retired bull rider called back into the arena to save his grandson, both physically and emotionally. 

But for McDonough, this film goes far beyond cinematic storytelling. It is, in his own words, “the most personal film I’ve ever done.”

The inspiration behind The Last Rodeo came to McDonough while filming a Western. A sudden, overwhelming thought struck him—what would happen if he lost his wife? That question quickly grew into a story of legacy, loss, and redemption. “It buckled me,” he said in an interview. “Then this thought from above came into my head—a grandfather returning to the ring to save his grandson, who’s suffering from the same illness that took his wife.” The story wrote itself from there, almost as if divinely inspired.

Faith plays a central role in both the narrative and McDonough’s creative process. “I’m fairly certain God planted the idea in my head,” he said. “Within 24 hours, I had voice-dictated the outline of the entire film.” 

For McDonough, the project felt like a calling. His independent production company, The McDonough Company, brought the idea to life with support from Angel Studios and co-writer/director Jon Avnet.

The result is a film rooted in the traditional values of family, perseverance, and belief—core elements of the American heartland. “It’s a story for people who still believe in putting family first,” McDonough said. “That’s what America was built on. My parents were Irish immigrants, and they taught me that hard work, humility, and love for family come above all else.”

Playing Joe Wainwright required McDonough to draw from his own life. “There’s a lot of me in this character,” he admitted. “When the script called for pain, I brought out my own—illness in my family, personal loss, even career challenges when I refused roles that went against my convictions.” 

Reliving those moments was difficult, but necessary. “It’s through faith and believing in Him that I’ve come out on the other side,” he reflected.

The film isn’t just a redemption arc for the character—it’s a testament to McDonough’s belief in faith-driven storytelling. “Hollywood’s lost its way a bit,” he noted. “We need films that uplift, that reflect real American values—honor, sacrifice, love.” The Last Rodeo aims to do just that.

Opened May 23, The Last Rodeo is more than a movie—it’s a reflection of one man’s journey through struggle, guided by faith and grounded in family. As McDonough says, “Let’s root for each other a little more. We need stories that heal.”

*Cover Photo/Thumbnail Photo from Angel Studios