Lonesome Dove Returns, But Is Montana Ready?

Well, folks, love it or hate it, it’s official: Hollywood just cannot quit Montana. Ever since Yellowstone got our state onto the entertainment map, the filmmakers have been flocking like tourists at Glacier in July. And now they’re unearthing the past with a reboot of Lonesome Dove. That’s right, the 1989 Western classic is getting a new Hollywood paint job.

Except Lonesome Dove is about cowboys herding cattle up to Montana, and it’s a bit of a mystery whether Montana gets to play itself. Hollywood has long used other states (or even other countries) to represent Montana. This means that even though we’re bracing ourselves for an influx of production crews, there’s a decent chance this whole thing could end up being filmed somewhere else, with our landscapes replaced by CGI mountains and a “Montana” that looks suspiciously like New Mexico.

That noted, even the prospect of having Montana back on-screen again is enough to put some locals on edge. Ever since Yellowstone made our state appear to be the final unspoiled frontier (spoiler alert: it’s not), the inflow of film crews, tourists, and out-of-state wealthy individuals has surged.

And how about the way these shows portray Montana? If you took Yellowstone at face value, ranching would be 90 percent shootouts and 10 percent cowboy philosophy. Real ranchers? They’re focused on the calving season, mending fences, and good whisky. Now everyone and their uncle wants their own “authentic” slice of Montana, and that’s making it harder for actual Montanans to afford to live here.

So, what’s next? A reboot of A River Runs Through It? A reality show about life in small-town Montana, starring influencers in cowboy hats? Who knows. But one thing’s for certain, film here or not, Hollywood’s romance with our state isn’t cooling anytime soon.

No word on when the filming will begin.