'Gunsmoke' Rides Again...With a Contemporary Look

For decades, Gunsmoke has been the longest running episodic show in TV history. It's about to be passed by The Simpsons and possibly Law & Order, but that's only in terms of seasons. If we're talking actual shows, Gunsmoke has about a 200 episode lead, because TV seasons used to have over 30 episodes. So it was quite a financial boon for CBS between the Eisenhower and Ford administrations, or even longer if you add in the radio series, and now the network sees more money in Marshall Matt Dillon's Dodge City, opting to turn the story into a film. I know, I know. Now on the surface, I have no major problem creating a new version of the story per se, because how many Jesse James movies have there been and why is the best one the most recent? Having said that, I'd rather they just came up with a new Wild West story. Shouldn't be too hard; the genre has been pretty thoroughly blanched of originality several times since the dime store novels. I suppose they're doing it because of the brand recognition. But what upsets me is the new spin, as reported by The Hollywood Reporter:

"The action-adventure will re-imagine Marshal Matt Dillon, the hero of the classic Western, for modern audiences. The story will be set in the same American West as the original but will feature a contemporary look and modern action twists."

See, I just can't rationalize that very easily. Are they turning it into Young Guns? Something in a Tombstone? What contemporary look would work in this context? That's where it's losing me.

Comments

[anybody]

It's okay, we have Preacher to offer originality in the Western... this is not as exciting.

[Jeremy]

I live about 2 hours from Dodge City. If they are wanting to make it contemporary yet still set in that town, then they are in for a few surprises...