The world has teased us so long with the possibility of a Deadwood movie that I swear, as a huge fan of the HBO western that ran from 2004 to 2006, that I wouldn’t be writing this post unless I had some very unambiguous evidence. The Deadwood fanverse doesn’t need me to stoke its pain.
So, how’s this for unambiguous:
“David has our commitment that we are going to do it,” said [HBO president Michael] Lombardo, at the TCA (Television Critics Association) press tour. “He pitched what he thought generally the storyline would be — and knowing David, that could change. But it’s going to happen.”
That comes from TVLine, which goes on to report that Lombardo believes show creator David Milch has something “left unsaid” about the series, and that he will begin work on the film script after he finishes his current project. Milch has already outlined the story, and he has the clear green light from HBO after preliminary conversations were held this past August. As for the casting problem—how do you get all those people back?—Lombardo expressed his confidence that Milch could handle the logistics.
“The cast is unbelievably [tight],” he told TVLine. “Some casts and creators form a bond that becomes relevant for the rest of their lives. This was a defining moment for a lot of them.”
So, is it time to start (tentatively) celebrating? Is the return of Al Swearengen and Seth Bullock and Trixie and Dan Dority and Sol Star imminent? Well, it’s probably healthier to maintain an “I’ll believe it when I see it” mindset even now, but based on this news, the Deadwood movie looks more realistic than ever.