Should Lonesome Dove Be Remade? Slow Burn Sandy vs. Pop Culture Polly #2
POP CULTURE POLLY:
“Sandy, did you see that article in The Hollywood Reporter? There’s a new adaptation of Lonesome Dove in the works! I’m telling you, this is huge—Western fans, Yellowstone fans, even people who’ve never seen the original are going to be in for a treat!”
SLOW BURN SANDY:
“Oh, I saw it, all right. And my first thought? ‘Here we go again—Hollywood trying to fix what ain’t broken.’ Lonesome Dove is a classic. Robert Duvall, Tommy Lee Jones, Danny Glover, Diane Lane, Anjelica Huston—those performances are untouchable! They’re already streaming the original for free on Tubi TV, so why not just point people there instead of messing with perfection?”
POLLY:
“Sandy, I know change scares you, but hear me out. The Lonesome Dove story deserves a fresh take! Most people under 40 have never even seen it. Imagine this masterpiece with today’s technology, a top-tier cast, and cinematic storytelling that brings the Wild West to life in a way that grips new audiences. You always say people should appreciate the greats—well, a modern version would introduce a whole new generation to Lonesome Dove!”
SANDY:
“Oh please, Polly. You don’t ‘introduce’ people to greatness by watering it down with a remake! You introduce them by saying, ‘Here, sit your butt down and watch the real deal.’ And guess what? Tommy Lee Jones as Captain Call. Robert Duvall as Gus McCrae—one of the best characters in Western history! And let’s not forget Danny Glover, Diane Lane, Anjelica Huston—this was the dream cast. You think you can just swap them out with some fresh-faced Hollywood hotshots and expect the same magic?”
POLLY:
“Magic? I love the original, but even you have to admit, some of it looks dated. We have the technology now to make the West look more real, more immersive. Plus, Westerns are hot again thanks to Yellowstone and 1883. A Lonesome Dove remake could be prestige TV at its finest, done with the care and budget it deserves.”
SANDY:
“You want ‘prestige’? The original won seven Emmy Awards. That’s SEVEN trophies proving it was already done right the first time! I wouldn’t mind a bigger budget but let’s talk casting—who’s gonna play Gus? Because if you say anything other than ‘a hologram of Robert Duvall,’ I don’t want to hear it.”
POLLY:
“Oh come on, you’re acting like great actors don’t exist anymore! What if we got Kevin Costner to step in? He’s got Yellowstone experience, he understands the genre. Or what about Josh Brolin? He’s got the grit. Heck, we could even bring in someone unexpected—think Timothy Olyphant or Matthew McConaughey. You know they could bring something new to Gus and Call!”
SANDY:
“Something new? The only ‘new’ thing I need is more people watching the real Lonesome Dove. I’m talking about the real dust, the real grit, the real acting. No fancy CGI sunsets, no overproduced drama—just the raw, honest storytelling that made it a masterpiece.”
POLLY:
“Look, you love Lonesome Dove. I love Lonesome Dove. But I don’t think a remake would erase the original. It could just be another version, like how True Grit got a new adaptation, and both versions are still respected. If done right, this could be amazing!”
SANDY:
“If done right? That’s a mighty big ‘if,’ Polly. But… I’ll admit it—I’ve been wrong before. Maybe, just maybe, if the right people are behind it, they could do justice to the story. I’m not holding my breath, but I’ll at least take a look when it comes out. Until then, I’m sticking with the original.”
POLLY:
“See? That’s all I wanted to hear! You’re not completely closed off to the idea!”
SANDY:
“I said maybe, Polly. Let’s not get ahead of ourselves. But one thing is for sure—anyone who wants to see what all the fuss is about can stream the original Lonesome Dove for free on Tubi TV right now. That way, when this remake comes out, they’ll know exactly what it has to live up to.”
POLLY:
“Fair enough. And when the remake turns out amazing, I’ll be right here to say, ‘Told ya so!’”
SANDY:
“And just remember, Polly—savor it one episode at a time, none of that bingey thing you do.”
Mike worked in the radio industry for 35 years which means sarcastic, tongue-in-cheek, satirical, trash talking characters to remind you laughter is good for the soul! Let’s have some fun with entertainment, movies and TV, sports, budget food and games, lifestyle and we’ll get ridiculous.
