Longmire is making a comeback.
Following extended negotiations between Warner Horizon Television and Netflix, the streaming service has picked up the Wyoming set cop drama starring Robert Taylor (The Matrix) and Katee Sackhoff (Battlestar Galactica) for a 10 episode fourth season, TVWise has learned.
Longmire follows Walt Longmire (Robert Taylor), the Sheriff of Absaroka County, Wyoming. Longmire is a widower who, following his wife’s death, lost interest in his job as Sheriff. But with the help of one of his deputies he re-commits to his job and decides to run for re-election, only to find that one of his own men is running against him
A&E’s highest ever rated original series, Longmire was unexpectedly cancelled by the network back in August, who cited dwindling demo ratings and the fact that they didn’t own the show as the reasons behind the decision. Almost immediately after the cancellation, series producer Warner Horizon Television announced plans to shop the show elsewhere, with Netflix having long been the preferred partner moving forward.
“When Warner Horizon Television came to us with the idea for a new season of Longmire, we were intrigued because the series is so unique, and consistently great”, said Cindy Holland, Netflix’s Vice President of Original Content. “We are thrilled to help continue Walt Longmire’s story for his large and passionate following”.
Despite last week’s reports that WB and Netflix were deep in talks for a fourth season, a key sticking point was thought to be global rights to the show, as it pulls in a lot of revenue for the studio’s global sales division Warner Bros International Television Distribution.
Through a compromise, the majority of WBITD’s deals for Longmire will be unaffected, with the show becoming a Netflix exclusive in only the US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. TVWise understands that the first run UK rights to the show will remain with TCM UK and the show will then be added to Netflix UK following the linear broadcasts, which is the same deal structure WB and Netflix struck for Gotham.
