HBO's "Deadwood" revival is still not shaping up faster than fans would want. While the script is done, the production faces another hurdle when it comes to casting.
HBO boss Casey Bloys confirmed during the summer press tour of the Television Critics Association (TCA) that the executives already read through David Milch's "Deadwood" script. According to Entertainment Weekly, Bloys described the revival story as "terrific."
For viewers who have not watched the original series, which aired on HBO from 2004 to 2006, the "Deadwood" revival movie works as a stand-alone.
"If you were a Deadwood fan, it would make you happy, and if you had never watched Deadwood, you could still enjoy it," Bloys said in the TCA panel.
Rounding up the cast
But while this news might excite fans who have been waiting for the "Deadwood" revival for years, Bloys admitted there's still a big problem that production has to fix. For one thing, the network still has to set a budget and find a director. It's also not so easy to round up the original cast as most are already attached to different projects.
Kim Dickens (Joanie Stubbs) and Dayton Callie (Charlie Utter) both confirmed via TV Line that HBO called them up recently to check their filming availability. Both actors have commitments on AMC's "Fear the Walking Dead."
Timothy Olyphant (Seth Bullock), who led the HBO series, has his Netflix show "Santa Clarita Diet." Ian McShane (Al Swearengen), who played the main villain, is tied to "American Gods" on Starz.
Molly Parker (Alma Garret) is working on the "Lost in Space" revival on Netflix. W. Earl Brown is in the comedy "I'm Dying Up Here" on Showtime.
The actors might have contracts that prohibit them from working on other shows.
Planning the revival
In 2015, HBO hinted via Deadline that it started revival discussions with David Milch.
The creator began writing the script after the meeting with the network bosses, and some cast members were privy to the drafts.
"Deadwood" explored the 1876 western period. It centered on a former marshal (Bullock) who established a new life and new business as a hardware store supplier in the small mining town of South Dakota.
But he learned there are corruption and politics among the locals.
Deadline also reported that the set of "Deadwood" still exists. Part of it is currently being utilized on another western-themed series "Westworld."
The show received critical praise, as well as plenty of accolades during its airing, including a Peabody Award.
