If you cast your mind back many years ago, before Game of Thrones, Westworld and True Blood, you’ll remember that HBO first made an impact on the television landscape with shows like The Sopranos, Six Feet Under, The Wire and, of course, Deadwood. It only lasted three seasons, but the Western was one of the most critically acclaimed series of its time and amassed a small but incredibly loyal fanbase. Unfortunately though, the ratings just couldn’t justify the cost to produce the show and it was ultimately given the axe.
However, creator David Milch has always promised us that there’d be more. It’s been well over a decade now since Deadwood left television, but every so often a small update pops up on the proposed movie, which has been in development for a very long time. Said to wrap up the stories of the various characters in a satisfying manner, fans have been holding out hope that it’ll eventually see the light of day. While we wouldn’t expect it to arrive any time soon, it seems that HBO is still intent on making it.
Speaking at the Television Critics Association press tour this weekend, Programming President Casey Bloys told Variety the following when they asked him about the Deadwood film:
“David Milch is still writing. I believe he’s writing a ‘Deadwood’ movie that I have not read… When it’s ready we will take a look at it.”
While it’s encouraging to hear that Milch is still hammering away at the script, we imagine that the project is probably not a priority for HBO at the moment. Despite the show’s loyal fanbase, the feature film would still only appeal to a very small audience and certainly wouldn’t be a big moneymaker for the network.
Honestly, they might be better off trying to revive it for a limited series, or something similar, rather than putting a movie into theaters. Then again, with most of the main cast now busy with multiple other projects, doing something like that would no doubt be quite difficult. If they could pull it off, however, it might be the wiser option.
Either way, we definitely want to see more of Deadwood. It was a show that never really caught on like it should have and be it on the big or small screen, another chance to revisit this world and its colorful cast of characters would be very welcome. Let’s hope that HBO feels the same way.
Tell us, are you still holding out hope to see more of Al Swearengen, Seth Bullock and the rest of the gang, or were you never really a fan of the show in the first place? Take to the comments section and be sure to let us know!