It’s Conception

In the fascinating world of Western television, an intriguing crossover nearly occurred when Sam Peckinpah, a renowned director and writer, penned the script for the pilot episode of The Rifleman. What makes this tale even more captivating is that he originally crafted it for another popular Western show, Gunsmoke, a few years prior.

Thankfully, fate intervened, and Gunsmoke ultimately declined the script, though it wasn’t entirely discarded. Peckinpah, with a few creative tweaks, breathed new life into the narrative. Among the notable changes was the transformation of the lead character’s name from John McCain to Lucas McCain and the introduction of a son character, setting the stage for The Rifleman’s unique journey in the Western genre.