Netflix will have some massive boots to fill, with the streamer gearing up to produce a TV series adaptation of the beloved novel Lonesome Dove.
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Of course, Larry McMurtry's perfect 1985 novel (which he originally envisioned as a film back in the 1970s starring Jimmy Stewart and John Wayne) became a near-perfect miniseries in 1989. Adored by generations of western fans, that miniseries starred Robert Duvall as Gus McCrae and Tommy Lee Jones as Woodrow Call, aging former Texas Rangers turned ranchers who set out on a harrowing cattle drive from the Rio Grande to the savage wilds of Montana in the 1870s. The four-part miniseries went on to score a Peabody, seven Emmys, and two Golden Globes.
Now, Netflix has decided to do the unthinkable and adapt Lonesome Dove as an ongoing TV series, according to Deadline. The outlet reports that the co-showrunners for Netflix's upcoming East of Eden limited series, Zoe Kazan & Jeb Stuart, are set to shepherd the project.
"After our singular experience on East of Eden, we are thrilled to be teaming with Netflix again, along with Teton Ridge Entertainment, to bring Larry McMurtry's western classic to life," Kazan and Stuart explained in a statement via Deadline. "We come to this material with love and respect, and can't wait to hit the trail with Gus and Call and the rest of these beloved characters. Yee-haw."
Netflix Exec on Upcoming 'Lonesome Dove' Series: 'It's Going to be Something Extraordinary'
The bigwigs over at Netflix also gushed about the upcoming Lonesome Dove series.
"Lonesome Dove is one of the great American stories. No question, we wanted to follow Zoe and Jeb wherever they went next," Jinny Howe, Netflix Head of Scripted Series, UCAN shared in a statement. "After East of Eden, we know exactly what they're capable of — the depth of character, the sweep of place, the emotional precision. This material deserves that level of care. In their hands, it's going to be something extraordinary. We're excited to partner with Teton Ridge to bring this legendary story to life.
Meanwhile, it may be tough for fans to imagine any modern actor filling the boots of Duvall and Jones. However, it might be nice to see Tom Hardy (who proved his chops for similar roles in 2012's Lawless) as the gruff and stoic Woodrow Call. As for the wisecracking (but heroic!) womanizer Augustus "Gus" McCrae... that might be a tougher nut to crack. Still, native Texan Matthew McConaughey might be an obvious choice for the role...
That said, Netflix may not want high-profile actors (and their huge paychecks) in the roles.
