#114: Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry

Four ideas for keeping the magic of the book alive

Hello readers,

The Big Read wraps up its 12-week reading adventure of Lonesome Dove this week. I read it back in 2019 and this year’s re-read was even more enjoyable thanks to the insightful comments of fellow Big Read participants.

I did a write up for The Big Read on how to keep the magic of Lonesome Dove alive. Check it out below and consider joining the reading group for A Tree Grows in Brooklyn in April.

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Howdy readers,

This has been a remarkable Big Read! I love this book and reading it along with each of you has enhanced the entire experience. I’m sad that this journey has come to an end.

But it doesn’t have to be over! If you’re like me and can’t get enough of these characters, I’ve got four ideas for continuing on the journey. Check out what interests you and let me know if you try any of them!

1. Read more McMurty books

If you want to know what happens next to Call, Newt, Lorena, and Pea Eye, check out Streets of Laredo. If you’d rather hang out with younger versions of Gus, Call, and Clara, Dead Man’s Walk and Comanche Moon are the way to go.

McMurtry has other award-winning books such as Terms of Endearment, The Last Picture Show, and Horseman, Pass By.

2. Watch the 1989 miniseries

You can relive the entire Lonesome Dove experience in a four-part miniseries that first aired on CBS back in 1989 and is now streaming on STARZ.¹ The much-heralded series won 7 Primetime Emmy awards on 18 nominations.

I finished the reading a little early and binged the four episodes: I can attest that it is fantastic. While I may have doubted them at first, Tommy Lee Jones and Robert Duvall are all-stars in the roles of Call and Gus. There were a few characters and scenes I would have liked to see (Louisa! Wilbarger! Grasshoppers!) but it is epic in scope and the tone is spot on.

While I was reading, I made a BINGO card of my favorite book scenes that I hoped would be included in the show. Feel free to use my card while you watch or make your own using my template.

3. Learn more about the making of the miniseries

Here are a couple fun links to a YouTube video and an article about the making of the series. It’s a fun rabbit hole and I can’t get enough “making of” content.

• Texas Monthly Article: The Making of Lonesome Dove.

4. Dream up an ideal cast for the remake

Here’s my question: How have we had 6 different actors playing Batman since 1989 but only one iteration of Lonesome Dove? I think if enough of us band together, we can force Hollywood to remake the book into a prestigious TV drama. I’m thinking a ten-episode season should do it.

Below is who I would choose to play the characters. Who would you pick?

Call, Gus, Lorena, and Clara

Josh Brolin has to be Call, mostly in homage to his pitch perfect Tommy Lee Jones impersonation in Men in Black 3. He can tap into that same energy again to play Call for a new generation.

Matthew McConaughey has the swagger, charm, and action chops for Gus. Plus, he’s a Texas boy — the role would fit him like a glove! Though he’s never worked with Brolin, I have no doubt they’d have chemistry.

Elle Fanning has played challenging characters in her 25 years and with a subtle glance can convey a lot of complexity under the surface.

Imagine Julia Roberts going toe to toe with Matthew McConaughey! That makes me smile. She’s got the toughness and directness and she loves horses!

Deets, Newt, Jake, and Dish

Jamie Foxx as Josh Deets is the only reasonable choice. And since we’ve got the technology, let’s de-age Josh Brolin for Newt! Timothy Olyphant is charming but can be sleazy, so he’d be perfect as Jake Spoon. Mike Faist was amazing in West Side Story, let’s see how he does in chaps as love-sick Dish Boggett.²

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Let me know if you try any of these ideas!

Thanks for being here, I really appreciate it.

Kyle

1. If you don’t have STARZ, no problem! You can sign up for a 7-day free trial or purchase all four parts for only $10.

2. I’d love to see Sam Rockwell as Wilbarger or July Johnson, but there’s no question we need Wilbarger this time around. Steve Buscemi, who played Luke in 1989, could come back as Roscoe Brown. Blue Duck could be Gil Birmingham or another actor from the Comanche nation.