Timothy Olyphant Just Played This Tombstone Legend Wyatt Earp On TV, Now We Need The Movie Version

Published Sep 15, 2026, 7:00 PM EDT

Karlis has been obsessing over television and movie news since he first learned how to read. He has worked in tech, as a musician, and in journalism with a well-rounded knowledge base of pop-culture throughout the eras. He claims that he has memorized the entire Internet Movie Database, and to date no one has been able to refute this.
Holding a Bachelor's Degree in Religion and Culture from Wilfrid Laurier University, Karlis loves to examine the intersections of popular science-fiction and culture. His latest novel MASS. is available now on Amazon and examines a world where obesity has become a federal crime.

Timothy Olyphant has recently played one of the most iconic characters in the history of the American West, and it is a role that he absolutely must expand in a feature film. Recently seen in shows including Lucky, Olyphant remains one of the most exciting stars working today, especially in the realm of Westerns.

Despite being born in Hawaii, Olyphant feels truly native to the American west. His series Justified is as strong as Yellowstone, and many of his roles have been colored with a similar kind of heartland texture. Even when disappearing into iconic roles like in the adaptation of Hitman, there is often a uniquely American texture to Olyphant's performances.

Still, Timothy Olyphant's best movies and shows have shown that the actor has dynamic range. He was especially strong in Netflix's Santa Clarita Diet, a comedy horror series with a great ensemble including Skyler Gisondo and Drew Barrymore. Olyphant was the perfect fit for that show, where he was able to show his more comedic side.

With this in mind, Olyphant has also played a few historical roles throughout his career. However, there is one major character in American history that Olyphant is perfectly suited for, and it is a role that he has finally played on television. Surprisingly, however, this version of the role is not the iteration that anyone would have expected from him.

Timothy Olyphant Played Wyatt Earp in Larry David Sketch Show

In season 1, episode 5 of Life, Larry, and the Pursuit of Unhappiness: An Almost History of America, Timothy Olyphant finally plays Wyatt Earp.

The episode, entitled "Lincoln", sees Larry David leading the HBO series cast through some important moments in history, including a scene where he plays cards with the Tombstone gang. In typical fashion for David's comedy, the conversation quickly turns observational and silly.

Larry comments on the obscurity of Earp's name, but the crew immediately disagrees. "If you go to the western part of Eastern Europe, you can't throw a rock and not hit an Earp," Olyphant's Wyatt Earp says. The crew also includes Don Johnson as Doc Holliday, and features some very funny banter between the group.

Even in this silly scene, however, it is hard not to see what a perfect fit Olyphant is for the iconic lawman character, a real-life figure known for his work in the late 19th century that included the memorable 1881 events of the O.K. Corral.

Somehow, even sitting mostly still, with a silly prop mustache on his face, Olyphant feels like an exciting and perfect choice for the role.

Why Olyphant Would Make the Perfect Wyatt Earp

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All of his career experience has made Timothy Olyphant the perfect star for a new iteration of Wyatt Earp's story. Olyphant has been a fantastic mainstay in the movie industry since his appearance in the 1997 hit Scream 2, and certainly has the dramatic chops to lead a project like this, as shown in both his movies and shows.

With that in mind, it is worth noting exactly how many western and western-influenced stories Olyphant has been a major part of. He memorably led the cast of HBO's genre-defining series Deadwood as Sheriff Seth Bullock, playing a complex character who rides the fine line between violent and honorable.

Later, Olyphant would headline another fantastic Western with Justified, a contemporary crime drama in which he delivered the best performance of his career. He leaned into the classic trappings of a Western hero, and turned U.S. Deputy Marshal Raylan Givens into one of the most memorable characters in television history.

In addition to all this, Olyphant has even played Western-like roles in series including The Mandalorian. His look, his delivery, and the kinds of roles that audiences have grown used to seeing him portray, have been the perfect preparation for another version of the stories seen in Tombstone and Wyatt Earp.

Timothy Olyphant is certainly a busy actor, with many more roles in film and television ahead. Still, there is so much potential for a new film based on the Wyatt Earp story, and it is difficult to imagine anyone better to lead it.

Timothy Olyphant