On the most recent episode of Game of Thrones, Ian McShane made his much anticipated return to HBO. But what fans really want to see is McShane reprising his role as Al Swearengen in a revival of Deadwood. Earlier this year, HBO President Michael Lombardo revealed that the network has already given David Milch the greenlight to make a Deadwood TV movie. It just hasn’t happened yet.
In a new interview with Entertainment Weekly, McShane expressed his enthusiasm about playing Swearengen again, even though there doesn’t appear to be much current momentum with the project. “Of course I’d love to reprise that [role],” said McShane. “How could one not, when it was snatched away rather unjustly by a combination of forces we’ll never know about – hubris or money or whatever. But [Deadwood] certainly finished too early. At the time, most of us working on the show were incredulous. It’s been announced by HBO so it’s not like I’m saying it. I know for a fact David is working on the script. It’s been 10 years since it finished. [Star Timothy Olyphant’s] free from Justified.”
McShane noted that the original plan was to film the Deadwood revival later this year or in early 2017, but there is no deal in place. He also speculated that the story would be set “10 years later, after the great fire or whatever happened in Deadwood.”
Despite a willingness from the cast to return to Deadwood, scheduling may still be an issue. McShane is already lined up for a leading role as Mr. Wednesday on Starz’s adaptation of Neil Gaiman’s American Gods. But we’re hoping that we’ll get more Deadwood sooner than later!
Are you excited about the prospect of a Deadwood TV movie or miniseries? Draw! And share your thoughts in the comment section below!
Image: HBO
