Ian McShane spills a few details about the upcoming Deadwood movie

Last Updated on July 30, 2021

Since its cancellation well over a decade ago, there have been rumblings of a potential Deadwood revival, but it always seemed just out of reach. Then, somewhat miraculously, the stars aligned and nearly the entire cast of the HBO series returned for a DEADWOOD feature-film which would pick up ten years after the show's third and final season. Production kicked off last November with Daniel Minahan directing from a script by Deadwood creator David Milch. As far as cast-members go, we can expect to see Ian McShane (Al Swearengen), Timothy Olyphant (Seth Bullock), Molly Parker (Alma Ellsworth), Paula Malcomson (Trixie), John Hawkes (Sol Star), Anna Gunn (Martha Bullock), Dayton Callie (Charlie Utter), Brad Dourif (Doc Cochran), Robin Weigert (“Calamity” Jane Canary), William Sanderson (E.B. Farnum), Kim Dickens (Joanie Stubbs), and Gerald McRaney (George Hearst) all returning. Even though it's actually on the way, I can scarely believe it's real.

Deadline caught up with Ian McShane at the Television Critics Association's winter press-tour for American Gods, where they asked the actor what we can expect from the DEADWOOD movie.

Deadwood is celebrating South Dakota as a state, and Hearst has come back and Alma has come back in town, so you have all the main characters converging and how they changed in ten years. Now Hearst wants to put telegraphs in town, which isn’t going too well. Al has had a little bit too much of that over the years. There’s a surprise for Trixie and Star.

During the three seasons of the HBO series, David Milch was known for rewriting the script on the fly, but Ian McShane said that it was quite different this time around. "This script was done, but nothing like we did before because it’s a two-hour movie, it’s a whole different thing (next) to doing an episodic," McShane said. In regards to whether DEADWOOD will wrap everything up in a neat little bow, McShane teased that the end will leave you wondering, adding that if it does well, "HBO will somehow find a way to do another one." As the thought of a Deadwood revival seemed like a pipe dream for so long, I'll take what we've already got before I start wanting more. Oh god, I want more!

The official synopsis for DEADWOOD:

The indelible characters of the series are reunited after 10 years to celebrate South Dakota’s statehood. Former rivalries are reignited, alliances are tested and old wounds are reopened, as all are left to navigate the inevitable changes that modernity and time have wrought.

DEADWOOD is expected to be released this spring.