“J.R. Ewing” will turn 80 this year!
2011 seemed like it might be the year for an all-new “Dallas” series, centered around the new generation of Ewings. The ball appeared to be rolling on the project, as I enthusiastically reported here back in November.
In the past few weeks, however, the latest Ewing resurrection appears to have hit a serious snag, judging by this article as well as the following Facebook update that went out shortly before Christmas:
Dallas star Larry Hagman has admitted that he is uncertain as to his role in the forthcoming TNT reboot. It was previously reported that the actor, who originally played J.R. Ewing from 1978 to 1991, was “ambivalent” about the project. Responding to recent reports that he had pulled out of the new series, Hagman told TV Guide: “That’s really interesting. We were talking about money, but I didn’t know it was going to come to a crashing halt like that.”
I do wonder why Larry Hagman would need to talk about money at all. At his age, turning 80 this September, and with the millions he’s made, grown and cultivated from his heyday, he should be willing to reprise his famous role for nothing! I would think he’d see it as pure enjoyment, and perhaps his final act. Odds are, however, that ole J.R. sees it differently.
In any event, I hope it really happens this year, that J.R. will return once again! And that’s my opinion.
Ryan R. Sanderson 