It's been nearly a decade since hit HBO western series Deadwood aired its final episode. The show ran for just three seasons, and fans have been begging for its return ever since it came to an end. Well, it looks like those pleas have been heard. TV Line reports that HBO president Michael Lombardo personally gave the series' creator, David Milch, the go-ahead to revive the show as a movie.
Deadwood is set in the 1870s in a lawless South Dakota town of the same name. The show worked in historical figures as characters, including Wild Bill Hickok, Calamity Jane and Wyatt Earp. But die hard fans are most looking forward to the return of Al Swearengen, a pimp and entrepreneur played brilliantly by Ian McShane.
The return of Deadwood after so long isn't exactly surprising. Its popularity has only increased since it went off the air, and it is following in the footsteps of other shows that developed cult followings after calling it quits. Arrested Development returned with a fourth season on Netflix in 2013, seven years after it was cancelled by Fox. Netflix is also doing a brief revival of Gilmore Girls this year, which went off the air in 2007. And the cult comedy Wet Hot American Summer got its own miniseries last summer on (yeah, you guessed it) Netflix.
Twin Peaks, a show that has developed more of a devout cult following since its cancellation than perhaps any show ever, is being picked up by Showtime for a third season in 2017, 26 years after its last episode first aired.
Deadwood's return is in good company, and if any of the other recent TV revivals are indicators, you can expect the movie to be as good (or better) than the series.