From DHD – A&E has given a green light to Longmire, a pilot based on Craig Johnson’s Walt Longmire Mysteries. Hunt Baldwin and John Coveny (The Closer, Trust Me) wrote the project and will exec produce; Warner Horizon and Shephard/Robin are producing.
Longmire is named after its central character, Walt Longmire, the local sheriff in rural Wyoming.
Book Jacket:
The body of a young man is found in Absaroka County, Wyoming. It is possible that Cody Pritchard is the victim of a hunting accident, or is he? After all, he was one of the four boys who lured Melissa Real Bird, a Cheyenne girl with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, into a basement and raped her. Cody and his friends received what amounted to suspended sentences. Is someone seeking revenge? Will the specter of race relations and lingering retribution claim more lives? Or will the only thing that stands between them and a Sharps .45-70 buffalo rifle be Sheriff Walt Longmire?
On the autumnal side of twenty-four years as sheriff of Absaroka County, which is located at the base of the Big Horn Mountains and next to the Northern Cheyenne Reservation, Walt is looking for a quiet period to finish out his tenure but instead finds himself embroiled in the most volatile and challenging case of his career. With lifelong friend Henry Standing Bear, Deputy Victoria Morretti, and a cast of characters tragic and humorous enough to fill in the vast emptiness of the high plains, Walt Longmire attempts to see that revenge, a dish best served cold, is never served at all.
You can read an excerpt here.
Craig Johnson at the National Festival of Books 2009 (to give you a taste of his humor):
Can’t wait . Love the Walt Longmire series!
Oh, boy! Oh, boy! Love the books and really hope they don’t mess the series up! It could be a good one! But who will play Walt?
Lol, me too :) They haven’t cast the pilot yet – who would you like to see play him?
More importantly – who will play Henry Standing Bear?!!
Hopefully Michael Greyeyes will play Henry Standing Bear! I can’t wait to see who they cast as Walt.
Lou Diamond Phillips (Stargate Universe) tweeted on March 26, 2011:
http://twitter.com/LouDPhillips
It’s official. Joining Robert Taylor #Matrix Katee Sackoff #BSG 4 a decidedly un-scifi pilot, #Longmire for #A&E. Wish us luck on this one!
Check out the #Longmire detective books. Very cool. I’m playing Henry Standing Bear. Hope to get the Cheyenne Nation’s blessing soon.
The thing about TV pilots is that we shoot them but if they don’t go to series, they’ll never be aired! Hence the request for luck!
I really hope it’s good – here’s a link to the announcement, with more on the cast
Are they still casting for native americans?
I have recently come across the Craig Johnson’s books. I have only read two, but anxious to read the rest. To bad Craig Johnson isn’t playing Longmire. Like the other comment. Lets hope they keep it very close to the books.
Would like to suggest that you cast Sonya Morae in the part of Lynn Stillwater! She’s awesome and you will not go wrong with her!!!
I believe that Native American actress, Jane Lind, would be the best choice for the role of Lynn Stillwater. She has the right look, and is renowned for her work in both film and theater. Also she knows from experience the life of a Native American woman.
They are filming parts, or all of the pilot in the Taos ski valley high in the mountains north of Taos New Mexico.
I was just there on vacation.
It is a very rugged and beautifull filming location for any TV pilot, or movie.
What a great deal for Craig… I couldn’t be more thrilled.