The venerable long-running TV western Gunsmoke is the latest vic ... er, candidate to be made into a movie.

According to The Risky Biz Blog, CBS Films is developing the show as a feature film which reimagines the exploits of Marshall Matt Dillon and his cronies in Dodge City, Kansas, during the booming cattle days of the 1870s.

The movie will have updated action sequences (oh no, not MTViolence!) and a contemporary feel, it seems, courtesy of screenwriter Gregory Poirier (National Treasure: Book of Secrets) who has almost finished his screenplay draft.

The original series ran for 20 years until 1975 and starred James Arness as Marshall Dillon. Hmm, we wonder if his sidekick Chester is going to be in the movie too ....