Netflix has officially greenlit a new television series based on the classic Western novel ‘Lonesome Dove’ by Larry McMurtry. The streaming service won the project through a competitive bidding process after Teton Ridge Entertainment, which holds the novel’s adaptation rights, developed the series. Zoe Kazan and Jeb Stuart, who previously co-showran Netflix’s upcoming ‘East of Eden’ adaptation, will return as co-showrunners for this new project. Teton Ridge acquired film and television rights to the four-book ‘Lonesome Dove’ series from the McMurtry Estate in 2025.
The series will be based on the first book in McMurtry’s ‘Lonesome Dove’ saga, which was originally published in 1985, according to TheWrap. The storyline centers on Gus McCrae and Woodrow Call, two former Texas Rangers who decide to take one last cattle drive from the Rio Grande to Montana, according to a report from justjared.com. This journey is filled with danger, personal reflection, and the pursuit of a dream that may already be beyond their reach. The novel won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1986.
The logline for the show describes it as an epic journey defined by longing, loyalty, justice, and the search for meaning in the frontier. Kazan and Stuart will serve as co-showrunners, writers, and executive producers for the series. Additional executive producers include Thomas Tull, Jillian Share, and Jen Gorton from Teton Ridge Entertainment, as well as Jon Jashni, Diana Ossana, and Curtis McMurtry of the McMurtry Estate.
The original ‘Lonesome Dove’ was first adapted into a four-part CBS miniseries in 1989, starring Robert Duvall and Tommy Lee Jones, Yahoo News reported. That version received critical acclaim, winning multiple Emmy and Golden Globe awards. The Television Academy lists 18 Emmy nominations and six wins for the miniseries. It also won two Golden Globes. Kazan and Stuart expressed excitement about bringing the story to a new audience.
They said they approached the material with deep respect and a strong desire to honor its legacy. Netflix’s head of scripted series, Jinny Howe, praised their previous work and expressed confidence in the team. She noted that Kazan and Stuart had shown they could handle complex characters and sweeping settings with emotional depth.
Jillian Share, president of Teton Ridge Entertainment, called the story a once-in-a-generation opportunity. She emphasized the enduring appeal of McMurtry’s portrayal of the American West. Diana Ossana, who is also executive producing, reflected on her long collaboration with Larry McMurtry.
She said that ‘Lonesome Dove’ had been a significant part of her creative journey over the years. The project is another step in Netflix’s ongoing effort to adapt popular books into television series. Recent adaptations like ‘Little House on the Prairie’ and ‘People We Meet on Vacation’ have been well received by audiences.
Upcoming Netflix book adaptations include ‘East of Eden,’ ‘Pride and Prejudice,’ and ‘The Corrections.’ Readers can find the original novel by Larry McMurtry on Amazon to prepare for the upcoming series. Netflix has not yet announced a cast or release date for the new ‘Lonesome Dove’ series.
IMAGE: Zoe Kazan attending the premiere of The Union at the 2011 Tribeca Film Festival. Photo: David Shankbone / Wikimedia, taken 2011-04-20, CC BY 3.0
This article passed automated originality and source-verification checks before publishing.