Netflix Orders New Series Take On ‘Lonesome Dove’ From ‘East of Eden’ Showrunners Zoe Kazan and Jeb Stuart

“Lonesome Dove,” which was originally adapted into an Emmy- and Golden Globe-winning CBS miniseries starring Robert Duvall in 1989, is getting a new take at Netflix. The streamer announced Tuesday that it had ordered “Lonesome Dove” to series, from co-showrunners Zoe Kazan and Jeb Stuart.

Kazan and Stuart are also the co-showrunners on Netflix’s upcoming limited series “East of Eden.” Kazan and Stuart were hired by Teton Ridge Entertainment, which holds the rights to “Lonesome Dove,” the Pulitzer Prize-winning western novel from author Larry McMurtry first released in 1985. The CBS miniseries was a smash, attracting 26 million viewers and spawned multiple sequels (“Return to Lonesome Dove,” “Streets of Laredo,” “Dead Man’s Walk,” “Comanche Moon”) as well as the 1994 syndicated “Lonesome Dove: The Series.”

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Here’s the logline: “Gus McCrae and Woodrow Call renew their spirit of adventure as they face an uncertain future, embarking on one final, perilous cattle drive from the Rio Grande to the untamed wilderness of Montana in pursuit of a dream that they have perhaps already outlived. These two former Texas Rangers lead an unforgettable cast of characters across the American west in this sweeping odyssey defined by unrequited longing, unbreakable friendship, brutal frontier justice, and an unwavering pursuit of a meaningful life.”

Teton Ridge acquired the rights to “Lonesome Dove” last year; at the time, it announced that development would begin with the first book in the series, “Lonesome Dove,” followed by the rest of the tetralogy, including “Streets of Laredo,” “Dead Man’s Walk” and “Comanche Moon.” The novels focus on members of the Texas Ranger Division, spanning from when Texas was a republic until the start of the 20th century when it was part of the U.S.

Kazan and Stuart will serve as co-showrunners/writers/executive producers, while EPs also include Thomas Tull, Jillian Share and Jen Gorton of Teton Ridge Entertainment; Jon Jashni; Diana Ossana; and Curtis McMurtry of the McMurtry Estate. Diana Ossana, McMurty’s longtime creative partner, is also an exec producer.

“’Lonesome Dove’ is one of the great American stories, and there was no question we wanted to follow Zoe and Jeb wherever they went next,” said Netflix head of scripted series, U.S. and Canada, Jinny Howe. “After ‘East of Eden,’ we know exactly what they’re capable of — the depth of character, the sweep of place, the emotional precision. This material deserves that level of care. In their hands, it’s going to be something extraordinary. We’re excited to partner with Teton Ridge to bring this legendary story to life.”

In a joint statement, Kazan and Stuart said that “we come to this material with love and respect, and can’t wait to hit the trail with Gus and Call and the rest of these beloved characters.” And Teton Ridge Entertainment president Jillian Share added: “‘Lonesome Dove’ is the kind of story that only comes along once in a generation. Its characters, scope and deeply human portrait of the American West have made it an enduring classic, and we see an extraordinary opportunity to bring Larry McMurtry’s world to a new generation of audiences.”

Said Ossana: “‘Lonesome Dove’ has been part of my creative life for decades, an important part of Larry’s and my partnership journey. Its characters, landscape, and profound understanding of friendship, love, loss, and human longing have stayed with me, and it is deeply meaningful to help bring this newly imagined, extraordinary world of ‘Lonesome Dove’ to a contemporary generation while preserving the emotional truths that make all of Larry’s work timeless.”