CBS Films Takes Aim @ "Gunsmoke" ?

CBS Films is currently casting for the part of 'Marshal Matt Dillon', in the upcoming big screen adaptation of "Gunsmoke", based on the 20-season run of the classic "Gunsmoke" TV series.

Screenplay for "Gunsmoke" is by Gregory Poirier, writer of "National Treasure: Book of Secrets".

The original television series starring actor James "The Thing From Another World" Arness, ran from September 10, 1955 to March 31, 1975 on CBS with 635 total episodes. John Wayne was first offered the lead part, but turned it down, not wanting to work in TV.

Wayne introduced the show before its first episode, following-up on his recommendation of Arness for the part.

Other main characters on the series included Dennis Weaver as 'Chester Goode', Milburn Stone as 'Dr. Galen "Doc" Adams' and Amanda Blake as 'Miss Kitty Russell', owner of the 'Long Branch Saloon'.
Initially on the fringes of Dodge society, 'Festus' was slowly phased in as a reliable sidekick to Matt Dillon and eventually made a deputy. Other actors who played Dillon's deputies included Roger Ewing as 'Thad Greenwood', Burt Reynolds as 'Quint Asper' and Buck Taylor as 'Newly O'Brian.

While Matt and Miss Kitty had a close personal relationship, they never married.

"If they were man and wife...it would make a lot of difference", said Arness. "The people upstairs decided it was better to leave the show as it was, which I totally agreed with."

In 1987, many of the original cast reunited for the Alberta-lensed TV movie "Gunsmoke: Return to Dodge", featuring Newly O'Brian as the new Marshal. A huge ratings success led to four more TV films including "Matt's Love Story", "Gunsmoke: The Last Apache" (1990), "Gunsmoke: To the Last Man", "Gunsmoke: The Long Ride (1993) and "Gunsmoke: One Man's Justice" (1994).

Click the images to enlarge and Sneak Peek "Gunsmoke"...