J.R. Ewing is officially receiving a proper sendoff.
In the wake of Larry Hagman’s death Nov. 23, TNT has begun planning arrangements for an onscreen funeral for his Dallas character, the network confirms. Presumably, familiar faces from the long-running soap will come out of the woodwork to pay their respects to the iconic TV villain, but no guest stars have yet been set.
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The 15-episode second season of TNT’s reboot is set to kick off at 9 p.m. Jan. 28. The funeral episode has not yet been filmed, nor is there a scheduled airdate, but Hagman had completed filming six episodes of the new season at the time of his death.
The season-one finale found Hagman’s J.R. involved in a new and improved alliance with estranged son John Ross (Josh Henderson), plotting to bring down Ewing Energies and — as a result — Christopher (Jesse Metcalfe) and Elena (Jordana Brewster).
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Hagman died of complications from cancer over Thanksgiving weekend. He was 81. Although it is still unclear how much his death has affected filming, it will not have an impact on the January premiere.
Following his death, Hagman’s onscreen wife Linda Gray in an interview with THR recalled meeting the actor at a table read in 1977 as well as her final deathbed conversation with her co-star and friend. Read the story here.
Email: Sophie.Schillaci@THR.com; Twitter: @SophieSchillaci
