Deadwood boss David Milch supposedly has stacks of scripts ready to go for an all-but-greenlit HBO revival, but hasn’t yet finalized a deal with the cable network, especially after its recent regime change. That said, series star Ian McShane is still more than game to return, suggesting a deal might be finalized as early as late 2016.

Currently busy with shooting Starz’s American Gods (don’t forget a quick trip to Westeros in Sunday’s Game of Thrones), McShane told Entertainment Weekly of undaunted interest in returning to the iconically profane role of Al Swearengen, whenever the movie should come together. McShane wondered if the movie might leap ahead a decade, after the famous historical fire, pointing out that creator David Milch was supposed to have a deal with HBO (or perhaps even shoot) sometime in the next year:

Of course I’d love to reprise that. How could one not, when it was snatched away rather unjustly by a combination of forces we’ll never know about – hubris or money or whatever. But [Deadwood] certainly finished too early. At the time, most of us working on the show were incredulous. It’s been announced by HBO so its not like I’m saying it. I know for a fact David is working on the script. It’s been 10 years since it finished. [Star Timothy Olyphant’s] free from Justified.

I’m hoping they’ll make the deal soon, for two or four hours, whatever they decide on. It was a very close knit group of actors on it. We got along very well. I’m sure David will decide to set it 10 years later, after the great fire or whatever happened in Deadwood. They haven’t done the deal yet. They [were planning] to do it late this year or early next year.

Of course, it’d still be up to Milch to gather the prolific cast (sadly without Ralph Richeson), which in three seasons included Justified lead Timothy Olyphant, Fear The Walking Dead lead Kim Dickens, Jessica Jones alum Robin Weigert, Breaking Bad breakout Anna Gunn, Paula Malcolmson, Molly Parker, and many more. The series also featured early guest spots for Parks and Recreation favorite Nick Offerman (take caution Googling that one), and even a young Kristen Bell.

For those unaware, HBO’s Deadwood ran from 2004 to 2006, showcasing the rise of Deadwood, South Dakota from frontier gold prospecting camp to fully-annexed territory.

Milch’s current HBO work with Shadow Country will take precedence over a Deadwood movie, but could the official greenlight come later this year?

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