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Gunsmoke was one of the longest-running TV shows in history, but only two cast members appeared in every season. Starting life as a popular radio drama before making the transition to television, Gunsmoke followed the exploits of Marshal Dillon as he oversaw law and order in Dodge City, Kansas. Despite rumors to the contrary, John Wayne was never offered Gunsmoke's Marshal Dillon role, though he suggested James Arness for the role and even recorded an introduction for the very first episode.

Gunsmoke was noted for being darker and grittier than the average Western show when it debuted on CBS in 1955, though of course, it would seem quaint to modern standards. The series ran from 1955 to 1975 and saw a range of future Hollywood stars passing through as guest stars, including Charles Bronson, Harrison Ford and Jodie Foster. Burt Reynolds had an extended run on Gunsmoke as Dillon's sidekick Quint too.

Norman Macdonnell and John Meston's "Gunsmoke" drama series aired on CBS for 20 uninterrupted seasons (!), a feat that feels even more impressive due to the consistent quality maintained throughout its run. Initially a radio series that broadcast between 1952 and 1961, "Gunsmoke" gained steady enough popularity to warrant a television adaptation in 1955, whose half to one-hour episodes culminate to form an epic Western saga for the ages. The nexus of "Gunsmoke" is one lawman Marshal Matt Dillon (James Arness) tasked to maintain order in Dodge City, Kansas, and his exploits underline the brutality of the Old West, challenging stereotypes attached to similar figures molded as unambiguously heroic. Although the show did employ archetypal characters — such as the loyal sidekick Chester Goode (Dennis Weaver) and the trustworthy town physician Doc Adams (Milburn Stone) — an appropriate amount of nuance grounds "Gunsmoke," which works best when rooted in morally grey vignettes.

However, we're not here...

CBS Films is currently casting for the part of 'Marshal Matt Dillon', in the upcoming big screen adaptation of "Gunsmoke", based on the 20-season run of the classic "Gunsmoke" TV series.

Screenplay for "Gunsmoke" is by Gregory Poirier, writer of "National Treasure: Book of Secrets".

The original television series starring actor James "The Thing From Another World" Arness, ran from September 10, 1955 to March 31, 1975 on CBS with 635 total episodes. John Wayne was first offered the lead part, but turned it down, not wanting to work in TV.

Wayne introduced the show before its first episode, following-up on his recommendation of Arness for the part.

Other main characters on the series included Dennis Weaver as 'Chester Goode', Milburn Stone as 'Dr. Galen "Doc" Adams' and Amanda Blake as 'Miss Kitty Russell', owner of the 'Long Branch Saloon'.

Initially on the fringes of Dodge society, 'Festus' was slowly phased in as...