Netflix’s New Adaptation Of Taylor Sheridan’s Favorite Western Book Of All Time Teased By Creators

EXCLUSIVE: Jeb Stuart and Zoe Kazan are nervous and thrilled about Lonesome Dove.

Penned by Larry McMurtry, the 1985 novel marked the first of four books, all of which were set toward the latter part of the 20th century and primarily exploring several characters of the Texas Ranger Division as they look to live and survive the journey from Texas to Montana. Lonesome Dove first made its way to the screen with the Robert Duvall-starring 1989 miniseries of the same name, which was a critical and viewership sensation, which led to the creation of multiple follow-up adaptations.

After nearly 20 years since the last of the franchise hit the screen in Comanche Moon, Netflix brought the surprising news that they would be developing a new live-action series adaptation of McMurtry's novel with Stuart and Kazan pairing as co-showrunners and writers. It marks the latest collaboration between the pairing and the streamer after teaming for the Florence Pugh-starring adaptation of John Steinbeck's historical drama East of Eden, which has garnered rave reviews from critics and audiences alike.

Now, in an interview with ScreenRant's Liam Crowley for their East of Eden series, Stuart and Kazan were asked what they could share about their approach to McMurtry's Lonesome Dove novel. Stuart began by expressing that the pair "have got a really healthy respect for each other" after their new Netflix adaptation, chuckling as he shared that when there are moments in which Kazan shares something, "I say 'yes'," calling it a "good place to start" to tackle something as expansive as the 843-page source material.

Kazan went on to share that she "really needed a partner in producing and showrunning" her Lonesome Dove vision, praising Stuart for being "an extraordinary" one. She also humorously acknowledged that the pair "look like an odd couple" with Stuart's history of having co-written the original Die Hard and Harrison Ford's The Fugitive, but that they have one shared goal when it comes to their productions:

Zoe Kazan: We really meet in a place of wanting to run a set where people are happy, of wanting to produce things at the highest level. We want to make stories that reach people at a human level. I think we are both problem solvers. We're very roll-up-your-sleeves and get in there, and it just works. I am really daunted by adapting Lonesome Dove, and I think that's a good place to be working from.

In the 41 years since McMurtry's book was first published, Lonesome Dove's legacy has served as a major inspiration for both numerous authors and filmmakers still working today. Most notably, both Stephen King and Taylor Sheridan have cited the Western epic as being their favorite novel of all-time, with the latter even writing the foreword for the 40th Anniversary Edition printing of the book and crediting it as an influence on multiple installments in his Yellowstone franchise.

Much like Lonesome Dove, Kazan and Stuart had quite the daunting task ahead of them when adapting East of Eden. Though not as long as McMurtry's 843-page novel, it not only clocked in at an extensive 601 pages, but also has multiple acclaimed adaptations to its name. The fact that the new Netflix series has ranked pretty equally with its predecessors, including the James Dean-led classic, is an encouraging sign of their ability to successfully translate classic material for the screen.

What will be interesting to see as development continues on Kazan and Stuart's Lonesome Dove is whether they start laying the groundwork to adapt the other novels in McMurtry's franchise. The 1985 novel chronologically sits as the third in the series' timeline, and with there being four other books penned before the author's death, they may include elements from the other entries as a means to leave the door open for future shows.

East of Eden is now streaming on Netflix.

Retired Texas Rangers Gus McCrae and Woodrow Call set out on one final cattle drive, leaving the Rio Grande behind for the untamed wilderness of Montana. The journey carries the longtime partners across the American West as they face danger, uncertainty, and the possibility that the life they are chasing may already be slipping away.