Deadwood movie update: 'No way it will happen,' Timothy Olyphant says

Actually, what Timothy Olyphant really said Wednesday night on Bravo’s Watch What Happens Live is far more Deadwood appropriate: “There’s no f—king way it will ever happen.”

But there was also a lot more hedging as well — as there always is when discussing the fabled Deadwood movie — and now HBO has weighed in too. So let’s back up a bit and tell this story fully.

The previous update on HBO’s longtime plan to wrap up David Milch’s cult hit Western with a movie was back in January. The network’s programming president Casey Bloys told reporters: “Assuming that we could get all the actors back together, I think this is something we would do possibly next fall, fall 2018 … I’m waiting for a rewrite, and we have to get the numbers right … assuming we can get everybody back together, I’m feeling optimistic about it.”

But if they’re planning on going back into production this fall, it seems Olyphant hasn’t received that memo.

First, the actor gave the standard response when a caller into Andy Cohen’s talk show asked for an update: “I know they’re making an effort,” Olyphant said. “They are making an effort, and I’m hopeful. But, you know, it’s…”

“You’re hopeful!” Cohen enthused. “That’s good!”

“I am hopeful,” Olyphant echoed, looking not particularly hopeful. “I mean I’m … I’m… I’m a huge fan of David Milch. The man means the world to me. It’s one of the most amazing creative experiences I’ve ever been able to be apart of, and I’d love to be … you know when you do these things you really miss the people. It would just be a lovely excuse to get all those people back together…”

Then Olymphant dropped the bomb: “That being said, there’s no f–king way it’s ever going to happen.” And reached for a glass of red wine.

“Not true!” the actor’s Santa Clarita Diet co-star Drew Barrymore said.

“But I will do my part,” Olyphant said.

“Why do you think it will never happen?” Cohen asked. “It’s too hard to get everyone together?”

“It’s too hard to get people together for a BBQ!” Olyphant answered. “What are we talking about? I’m a cynic.”

“Drew thinks it’s going to happen,” Cohen added.

“It’s closer to being a reality than it’s ever been,” Olyphant said.

But hold on. We checked with HBO and they’re not backing off their previous optimism. “We are continuing to try and bring this group of actors together,” the network said in a statement. “With varying schedules, it is a challenge, but we are committed to finding a way and making the film.”

