Netflix has greenlighted Lonesome Dove, a limited series based on Larry McMurtry's classic novel. Deadline reported that the indie studio Teton Ridge Entertainment "had previously announced acquisition of the rights to the Lonesome Dove literary franchise for film and television. It brought in Kazan and Stuart to write the adaptation and took the package out in late April. By early May, in a very competitive situation, Lonesome Dove had landed at Netflix with a straight-to-series order."
The project is envisioned as an ongoing series. Lonesome Dove was previously adapted as a hit 1989 CBS miniseries, starring Robert Duvall and Tommy Lee Jones. It won a Peabody, seven Emmys, and two Golden Globes. Subsequent books in the Lonesome Dove series were also adapted into miniseries.
Kazan and Stuart were co-showrunners for Netflix's upcoming East of Eden series, based on John Steinbeck's novel and written by Kazan. Starring Florence Pugh, that project premieres October 1.
"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 said in a statement. "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."
Jinny Howe, Netflix head of scripted series, U.S., Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, said, "Lonesome Dove is one of the great American stories, and there was no question we wanted to follow Zoe and Jeb wherever they went next. 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."