Former Deadwood star Ian McShane says he is ready to drop everything if HBO decides to make a film version of its acclaimed western series.
Creator David Milch has been working on a script for HBO for the long-awaited Deadwood movie, something the network has confirmed, but so far nothing has been greenlit.
McShane told EW that he's eager to play Al Swearengen, even though he has a starring role in Starz's upcoming Neil Gaiman fantasy drama American Gods.
"Of course I'd love to reprise that," McShane said. "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 it's not like I'm saying it."
Deadwood was originally launched by HBO in 2004 and ran for three seasons before being cut short without a 'proper' conclusion, something that was a cause of concern for all involved - especially the show's dedicated fanbase.
A planned film was in the pipeline after the show's cancellation, but talks between Milch and the US cable network collapsed and the project's been in HBO limbo ever since.
"I know for a fact David is working on the script [for a film]," said McShane. "It's been 10 years since it finished . . . 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 ten 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."
