Ethan Hawke
is reportedly returning to the Western genre. Deadline has exclusively revealed that the actor is in talks to write and produce a reimagining of The Gunfighter, a classic western released in 1950. The film is still in the early stages of development, with the report stating that Hawke is only set to co-write it with his co-writer Shelby Gaines. However, that could change later, as Hawke could also direct the film. This wouldn’t be the actor’s first time helping to remake a Western, either.
The original film tells the story of aging gunfighter Jimmy Ringo (Gregory Peck), whose attempts to escape his reputation as a notorious gunslinger and killer intersect with his wish to reunite with his wife (Helen Westcott) and the son he didn’t know he had. The film’s portrayal of the lawlessness of the frontier and the consequences of violence made it a classic in the genre, and Hawke’s inclusion in the remake will undoubtedly help elevate the material.
Before The Gunfighter, Hawke starred in The Magnificent Seven remake directed by Antoine Fuqua, which had an ensemble cast with the likes of Denzel Washington, Chris Pratt, and Vincent D’Nofrio, among others. While it’s not confirmed that Hawke will be directing, his experience as a director for films like Wildcat, the Flannery O’Connor biopic released in 2023 (which he also wrote with Gaines), also makes him a viable candidate for the role.
‘The Gunfighter’ Has the Potential to be a Modern Classic
As a massive film fan, Ethan Hawke has been vocal about his love and respect for The Gunfighter in the past, long before this project was reported by Deadline. In an interview on TCM’s Two for One, Hawke would say that the movie is one of his all-time favorite films. The actor would discover the film through his longtime collaborator Richard Linklater, and Hawke would describe the movie as “the best Western that isn’t famous.” Hopefully, should this remake come to fruition, The Gunfighter can find new relevance, and encourage others to seek out the original source material.
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While Deadline’s report about the film doesn’t mention Hawke starring in the film, nothing is out of the realm of possibility considering how multi-talented the actor is. Writing, acting in, and directing a Western film is a tall task, akin to something Clint Eastwood would do (the legendary actor would direct, produce, and star in the 1992 film Unforgiven, although he wouldn’t write it). The Gunfighter’s star, Gregory Peck, was 34 when the movie was released, although the character could possibly have aged up to further drive home the idea of the character being an aging gunfighter wanting to escape his violent life and reputation.
The film, which 20th Century Studios will distribute, has the potential to revitalize the long-considered stagnant Western genre. Hawke has spoken in interviews before about his wish to revive the genre and has starred in his fair share of Westerns, including Pearl Director Ti West’s 2016 movie In a Valley of Violence. The actor’s storied career, which includes credits ranging from the Marvel Telvision series Moon Knight to Linklater’s decades-long project of the Before Trilogy, more than speaks to his experience and how his potential work behind the camera could make The Gunfighter a worthy addition to the Western Genre.