Lots of fans let HBO know how they felt about the situation. A massive letter-writing campaign was organized and a full-page ad was placed in the trade paper Variety. Many said that if the pay-per-view channel cancelled the old west series then they would cancel their monthly subscriptions. HBO heard the outcry and finally came to an agreement with David to create a pair of two-hour films that would allow him to properly wrap up the series (in place of a fourth season). Each episode of Deadwood has typically represented one day in the lives of the South Dakota characters. Shifting to two-hour movies would allow David to break that format and complete the storys he had planned for the final season.
At the time, it was said the movies would be broadcast in 2007. According to SaveDeadwood.net, filming is now scheduled to start in June or July of this year (after the completion of the first season of David’s other HBO series, John from Cincinnati). Unfortunately, the longer it takes for the production to get going, the less likely that all of the cast members will be available. Many of the actors have very active careers outside the Deadwood series.
Actor Ian McShane (Al Swearengen on Deadwood) for example is scheduled to star in a revival of The Homecoming on Broadway in the Fall. His rehearsals would theoretically start in October, leaving a very limited time-frame to participate in the movies.
Though David Milch is reportedly excited about his scripts, Ian seems less than optimistic. “We’re still waiting to know if the two two-hour movies will done,” McShane said. “Today they say yes, they will be done, but who knows what they’ll say tomorrow. I’ve got a feeling in me that it’s not completely dead in some way, but who knows what they could do it?”
Though it seems like we’re closer to seeing the movies be made, they’re far from completed. Will all of the cast members be available? Will the movies fulfill the promise and wrap up the storylines properly? Time will tell so stay tuned! 
Related links
Deadwood on DVD
More about:
Deadwood,
John from Cincinnati
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First Carnivale now Deadwood , what IDIOTS , ask the people or take a poll of HBO viewers . Rome I liked the rest was terrible . SHAME SHAME HBO >.
I am in totaly sympathy with all those who continue to miss Deadwood. I feel it was the best written show I have ever seen. I have never watched an historic portrayal of a period of American life that felt more plausible. Lets all ask Carolyn Strauss to bring it back. Please Carolyn!!!!!!!!!
Cancel Deadwood?! Please say it ain’t so! I have been so looking forward to another season of Deadwood, now I may as well do like the rest of y’all and cancel HBO–why bother watching when there’s nothing on there worth watching.
Apparently HBO stands for Had Balls Once and their promise to film two movies to close out the Deadwood series was nothing but hot air. Too bad. I am cancelling my subscriton after waiting for promises that wont be fullfilled.
Dead wood, Rome, Sopranos. Where will HBO stop? I am going to cancel HBO from my subscription with these decisions. You get a quality program and then you cancel for reasons that viewers never understand. I guess HBO does not like it at the top.
Once your costs go up you cancel the series and move on. How about treating us better. We pay our monthly charges. Deadwood was a great show.
There are many of us in Florida and Georgia as well that are dissapointed in the lack of closure to the deadwood series.I thought HBO was reliable,does anyone know why they did not pickup deadwood? Also can’t one of the other channels pick it up? Or is it tied to a “if we don’t broadcast it no one can kinda deal? Very sad & curious. It was the best thing HBO ever did for the history/western lovers of America.TJ
Ditto to all that is said above. I will cancel HBO and urge all my friends to do the same!! How stupid can a net work become?
Deadwood was perhaps one of the most “current” series created in years! Just got on the 101 network!
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