PRAIRIE GROVE — Historic structures at Prairie Grove Battlefield State Park will be featured in a movie expected to be released this year or early next year.

Filming took place for three days last week at the park for “Broken Trail,” a western set in 1875.

The film, produced by SkipStone Pictures, used buildings at the state park that included the Latta kitchen, the Dogtrot and the school.

“Broken Trail” stars Rumer Willis, the actress daughter of Bruce Willis and Demi Moore, as Katherine “whose life is shattered when her beloved husband (Caleb) falls victim to a murder orchestrated by the nefarious Colonel Davis (played by Jeff Fahey),” according to information provided by the filmmakers.

Katherine’s path crosses with John Scobell, played by Gbenga Akinnabe, a Black man with a troubled past as a former Pinkerton agent. According to a synopsis of the movie, John is “drawn to Katherine’s determination and the injustice of Caleb’s death. Together, they form an unlikely alliance fueled by a shared desire for retribution.”

Director Johnny Remo, owner of Skipstone Pictures,

said the plan is to have the film in theaters possibly in late November or early January or February.

The company has filmed scenes at the Washington County Historical Society Headquarters House in Fayetteville; Washburn, Mo.; Prairie Grove; Cane Hill; and Van Buren.

Remo said he has about 40 people, including actors and other crew members, working on the film. They started June 29 and were scheduled to finish Tuesday.

Daniel Backman, writer and coproducer, complimented park Superintendent Susan Donnangelo for her assistance.

“Susan has gone above and beyond to allow us to do what we need to do,” Backman said, noting the historical value, beauty and serenity of the park.

Lesa Wolfe, also a coproducer and location scout, said she loves the historical authenticity of the park.

Remo said they learned in researching for the movie that John Scobell was a real person in history, a slave whose owner educated and freed him. As a Pinkerton agent, he was thought to be the first Black secret service agent in history, Remo said.

“This is the first time that you will see this historical character in a movie,” Remo said.

Allan Pinkerton immigrated to the United States in 1842, opened his first office in Chicago in 1850 and signed a contract to guard the Illinois Central Railroad in 1855, according to the Pinkerton website. The organization served as an intelligence agency during the Civil War and is considered a forerunner for the Secret Service.

The Pinkerton National Detective Agency made its name in the late 1850s for hunting down outlaws and providing private security for railroads, according to History.com. It’s believed the Pinkertons inspired the term “private eye” because its logo was a large, open eye.

The firm still exists today as simply “Pinkerton” and provides private security and guard service.

James Hebert, who plays a “shady” Pinkerton agent named Zeke in the movie, said he is the “nicest bad guy you’ll ever meet.” Hebert said he considers “Broken Trail” less a cowboy movie and more like a spy movie.

“Zeke is the wild card. You never know what he is going to do,” he said.

Others in the film are Eric Nelson, Jeremy Sumpter and Graham Greene.