Some stories are so good, they have to be retold. And in show business, that can result in criticism or critical acclaim. One such movie that was recently remade and rose to the heights of stardom is “A Star Is Born.” This 2018 remake, starring Bradley Cooper, Lady Gaga, and Sam Elliott, was redeveloped from the 1976 version starring Barbara Streisand and Kris Kristofferson, which itself was a remake from a 1937 drama starring Frederic March and Janet Gaynor. So, you see, there are many epic stories we know today that have been reborn from a classic, which raises a question. Should there be a remake of Lonesome Dove?
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Should There be a Remake of Lonesome Dove, and Who Would Star?
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The epic tale written by Larry McMurtry was turned into a four-part television mini-series in all its western glory. It starred Tommy Lee Jones and Robert Duvall. The story of the two famous former Texas Rangers was one that found its way into the hearts of fans throughout North America, many of whom, to this day, continue to support the franchise that grew from its making. With such an iconic cast, and a memorable screenplay written by Bill Wittliff (who has since passed on,) the concept of a remake could reasonably be scoffed at.
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The fact that Tommy Lee Jones has gone on to earn directing credits for “The Homesman,” “The Good Old Boys,” “The Sunset Limited,” and “The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada,” leads one to believe he could easily master the direction of a Lonesome Dove remake. As far as the starring roles go, a mixture of Matthew McConaughey, Ethan Hawke, Kevin Costner, Viggo Mortensen, and the like might help to generate a cast worth recreating this western genre masterpiece.
Photo: Facebook/Lonesome Dove Fans
With every reincarnation of a classic hit, there’s always the risk that you’ll lose something in the process. That perfect touch of magic that made it work the first time around might not necessarily be there for this next iteration. Western films aren’t necessarily at the top of the box office at this point, although shows such as The Ranch have a touch of western lifestyle popularity to them. The draw of the history in this work might not be what it was when the miniseries was first released in 1985. You could fill the bill with as many crowd-pleasing actors and actresses as you like, but that doesn’t necessarily mean the project will succeed. What are your thoughts on the concept of a remake of Lonesome Dove? Is it possible to strike gold twice with this Larry McMurtry classic? Or would the original adaptation stand alone over the test of time as the sole version in which fans invest their stock?
