A PRAYER FOR THE DYING: Johnny Flynn Leads a Haunting Post-Civil War Drama

Johnny Flynn stars in A Prayer for the Dying, an atmospheric historical drama set in the aftermath of the American Civil War. Set against the harsh Wisconsin frontier of 1870, the film follows a Civil War veteran attempting to build a peaceful new life with his family, only to find his adopted community threatened by disease, wildfire and the lingering wounds of war.

Directed by Dara Van Dusen and based on the novel by Stewart O’Nan, A Prayer for the Dying explores faith, family, sacrifice and the difficult choices people make when survival comes at a cost.

The film arrives in theatres on October 9, 2026.

Plot

In 1870, the small Wisconsin settlement of Friendship is home to a community of Scandinavian immigrants still struggling with the consequences of the Civil War.

At the center of the story is Jacob Hansen, a former soldier who has found a new purpose in Friendship. Jacob has built a life for himself as the town’s sheriff, undertaker and pastor, while raising his young family and trying to leave the horrors of the past behind.

But Jacob’s hopes for a peaceful future are shattered when a deadly epidemic begins spreading through the community. As if the outbreak wasn’t enough, a threatening wildfire creates another devastating danger, pushing Friendship toward catastrophe.

Jacob is forced into an impossible position. Should he remain with his family and protect the people he loves most, or risk everything to defend the community that gave him a second chance?

A Story About Faith, Family and Sacrifice

At its heart, A Prayer for the Dying is more than a traditional period drama.

Jacob’s responsibilities as sheriff, undertaker and pastor place him at the center of virtually every crisis facing Friendship. His roles force him to confront death, violence and suffering while simultaneously questioning his own faith and the meaning he has found in his new life.

The arrival of an epidemic and wildfire turns those personal struggles into a fight for the survival of an entire community.

The film’s central question is a deeply human one: How much are we willing to sacrifice for the people and places that have given our lives meaning?

The Cast

Johnny Flynn as Jacob Hansen

Johnny Flynn leads the film as Jacob Hansen, a Civil War veteran who has transformed himself into a respected member of the Friendship community.

Jacob’s position makes him responsible for protecting the town while also serving its spiritual and emotional needs. As the crisis intensifies, those responsibilities begin to conflict with his duties as a husband and father.

John C. Reilly as Doc

John C. Reilly co-stars as Doc, a key figure within the isolated community.

Reilly brings considerable dramatic experience to the role, adding another compelling presence to the film’s ensemble.

Kristine Kujath Thorp as Marta Hansen

Kristine Kujath Thorp plays Marta Hansen, Jacob’s wife and an important part of the family Jacob is determined to protect.

Gustav Lindh as Harlow

Gustav Lindh rounds out the principal cast as Harlow.

The Setting: 1870 Wisconsin

The film’s setting plays an important role in the story.

Friendship is portrayed as a small settlement populated by Scandinavian immigrants attempting to establish new lives in an unfamiliar part of America. The isolation of the community makes the arrival of disease and wildfire particularly frightening, leaving residents with few places to turn when disaster strikes.

The post-Civil War setting also gives the story an additional layer of tension. Even though the fighting has ended, the psychological and social consequences of the conflict remain.

For Jacob, the war isn’t necessarily something that can simply be left behind.

Based on Stewart O’Nan’s Novel

A Prayer for the Dying is based on the novel by Stewart O’Nan, with Dara Van Dusen adapting the story for the screen while also directing the film.

The combination of historical drama and intimate family storytelling provides the movie with an opportunity to examine a turbulent period in American history through the experiences of one isolated community.

A Darker Kind of Historical Drama

Rather than presenting the post-Civil War period solely as a sweeping historical epic, A Prayer for the Dying appears to take a more intimate approach.

The threat comes from several directions at once — disease, fire, violence and the emotional scars carried by the survivors of war. Jacob’s personal conflict gives the larger historical backdrop a human face.

The result promises a somber and atmospheric story about survival, faith and the price of doing what you believe is right.

Release Date

A Prayer for the Dying will be released in theatres on October 9, 2026.

A Prayer for the Dying — At a Glance

Title: A Prayer for the Dying
Genre: Historical Drama
Release Date: October 9, 2026
Setting: Friendship, Wisconsin, 1870
Director: Dara Van Dusen
Writer: Dara Van Dusen
Based on the novel by: Stewart O’Nan
Cast: Johnny Flynn, John C. Reilly, Kristine Kujath Thorp, Gustav Lindh

With a Civil War veteran caught between protecting his family and saving the community that gave him a second chance, A Prayer for the Dying looks set to deliver an emotional and atmospheric story of survival, sacrifice and faith in post-Civil War America.