Was Deadwood cancelled or was it planned to last only three years?
HBO released the actors from their contracts, effectively cancelling it. More here. I’ve also read that David Chase wanted to move on to something else, though I don’t know if this was to the exclusion of Deadwood, or in addition.
Most of the cast were only signed for three seasons and HBO declined to pick up their options. HBO and creator David Milch agreed on two two-hour movies to make up for a fourth season. As of this January, Milch intends to start work on the first movie this summer, after production has finished on his current series, “John from Cincinnati.”
David Milch was the producer of “Deadwood”, and of course his other project is “John From Cincinnati.”
In the Season 3 DVD commentary the actors (namely W. Earl Brown) talked about the made for TV movie (or two) as a distinct possibility.
…and other posters beat me to additional pearls I had written…
But I’ll add that I hope John… dies early to free Milch up for the Deadwood movies - sorry to anyone who watches the show.
D’oh. Of course you’re right.