What Became of the 'The Rifleman' Remake?

The Big Picture

The popularity of television Westerns in recent years makes a reboot of The Rifleman seem like a perfect opportunity to capitalize on the genre's craze.

The Rifleman, a Western series with a contemporary touch, explored profound subjects and presented distinct characters, making it ideal for a reboot. Chris Columbus, renowned for crafting captivating characters and grand adventures, was initially involved in the revival of The Rifleman and proved to be a fitting choice for the undertaking, despite past professional obstacles.

The Western genre has undergone evolution over time as filmmakers discover fresh approaches to these timeless tales. Since the 1930s, Westerns have enjoyed popularity, but in recent years, they have gained particular favor on television. Shows like Yellowstone, Westworld, Justified, and Deadwood, among others, have demonstrated that there are still captivating stories to be told about the Wild West. It requires a skilled team of storytellers to breathe new life into the material. With the recent surge in popularity of television Westerns, it seems like an ideal opportunity to capitalize on the trend by rebooting the classic gunslinger adventure serial, The Rifleman. However, the proposed reboot of The Rifleman is one among several projects currently trapped in development limbo.

‘The Rifleman’ Reboot Never Shot a Pilot

Image via ABC

In late 2011, CBS announced a potential revival of The Rifleman. Screenwriters Laeta Kalogridis and Patrick Lussier were set to pen a script, while Chris Columbus, known for directing the Harry Potter movies, was attached to direct under his CBS Studios deal. However, the excitement for the beloved series' return was short-lived. Just a year later, the project was put on hold as CBS shifted focus to other Western-themed shows, such as David Mamet's reboot of Have Gun-Will Travel. Despite the impressive lineup of talent behind The Rifleman revival, a pilot episode never came to fruition.

Details regarding the project were limited, but the reboot would have followed a similar narrative and structure to the original series. The Rifleman premiered on ABC in September 1958 and gained a substantial fan base until its conclusion in 1963. Starring Chuck Connors as Lucas McCain, a retired veteran of the American Civil War, the series revolved around his journey of raising his son Mark (Johnny Crawford) after the loss of his wife. Presented in black-and-white half-hour episodes, the majority of the show focused on Lucas's encounters with local bounty hunters in the fictional town of North Folk, located in New Mexico Territory. Set in the 1880s, a perilous time for Union supporters in the southern American territories despite the end of the Civil War, the series showcased the dangers of this period.

Although The Rifleman may have appeared episodic due to the individual cases solved by Connors' character each week, it delved beyond typical gunslinger serials. Notably, the show pioneered the introduction of profound themes and recurring storylines. Touching on subjects such as alcoholism, civil disobedience, and pacifism, The Rifleman explored thought-provoking concepts ahead of its time. It is worth noting that during the era in which the show aired, television was often considered a lesser form of entertainment compared to film. The notion of "prestige TV" did not surface until the late 1990s with the emergence of HBO productions like Oz and The Sopranos.

‘The Rifleman’ Was Refreshingly Modern

Image via ABC 

Compared to other classic Western television shows, The Rifleman stood out for its unique characters. The depiction of McCain as a single father was noteworthy and presented a deeper understanding of masculinity compared to most shows of its time. The Rifleman's incorporation of nuanced social themes made it feel modern, creating an opportunity for a reboot to capitalize on its name recognition and appeal to both original fans and new viewers.

Sam Peckinpah's involvement in the original version of The Rifleman gave it added credibility, setting it apart from other television shows. Peckinpah's subsequent works, such as the critically acclaimed The Wild Bunch, revitalized the Western genre. His films, including Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid, Ride the High Country, and The Ballad of Cable Hogue, distinguished themselves through their graphic violence and mature content. Peckinpah's contributions showed that, even within the confines of network television, historical fiction could still address social progress.

What’s disappointing about the shelving of The Rifleman reboot is that it happened right before Western television was poised to enter a new renaissance. Justified's success on FX demonstrated that audiences were still interested in serialized Western adventures on TV. And in recent years, Yellowstone's dominance has shown that the genre is still capable of producing new blockbuster-sized hits. Could The Rifleman have kickstarted this new era of Western dominance if it had made it to the screen? That remains uncertain. Both Justified and Yellowstone were notable for taking place in modern times, whereas the planned reboot of The Rifleman would have maintained the original show's historical setting.

Why Chris Columbus Was the Perfect Director for 'The Rifleman' Reboot

The Rifleman reboot had the potential to uphold Peckinpah's legacy with the involvement of a skilled filmmaker, Chris Columbus. Columbus is often overlooked for his talent in creating captivating characters and embarking them on grand adventures, evident in his successful kick-starting of the Harry Potter and Home Alone franchises. However, the unfortunate timing of The Rifleman reboot coincided with a less favorable period in Columbus' career. His adaptation of Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief, released in 2010, received lukewarm reviews from both critics and fans of Rick Riordan's original source material.

Despite the lack of success with the Percy Jackson series, Columbus has demonstrated multiple times his ability to capture the perfect tone for The Rifleman. Though the series had its serious moments, it managed to avoid becoming overly somber due to the infusion of humor. Columbus has proven his skill in balancing comedy and drama in his finest works, even in comedic films like Mrs. Doubtfire and Stepmom, which still maintained a relatable sense of reality.

Release Date September 30, 1958Cast Chuck Connors, Johnny CrawfordMain Genre DramaGenres Drama, WesternSeasons 5