‘Deadwood’ HBO Movie Inches Closer To Green Light With California Tax Credit

More encouraging news for Deadwood fans. The long-in-the-works HBO Deadwood movie just received a $4.195 million California tax incentive.

There is no green light for the film yet but HBO applying for a tax credit and getting one indicates that that the network has full intention of making it. It also means that the network has a finished script and financing in place, requirements for a tax benefit application. At TCA in January, HBO president Casey Bloys confirmed that the network was eying a fall 2018 production start for the long-gestating movie. According to the California Film Commission regulations, a film or a TV series generally has to start principal photography within 180 days of being approved for a tax credit in order to receive it, though exceptions are being made in special circumstances. That means that Deadwood should start filming by the beginning of October.

“Assuming that we could get all the actors back together, I think this is something we would do possibly next fall, fall 2018,” Bloys told Deadline in January. “I’m feeling optimistic about it.”

Three months later, talks with the cast continue, focusing on their availability, and synching up the work schedules of the sprawling ensemble remains the one outstanding issue that is holding up a green light.

“It’s very hard to get people together for a barbecue that lasts an afternoon, let alone to get everyone together for a production that lasts a month or two,” co-star Timothy Olyphant recently told radio host Rich Eisen in an interview.

Landing the sizable tax credit certainly certainly gives incentive to HBO and the Deadwood movie producers to make it happen.

Created by David Milch, Deadwood starred Ian McShane as merciless saloon owner Al Swearengen, along with Olyphant as Seth Bullock, Molly Parker as Alma Garet and Brad Dourif as Doc Cochran. The acclaimed series ran for three seasons from 2004-2006 before abruptly ending its run, and there have been calls for and talk of a revival ever since.