Tuesday, October 28, 2003 Western fans will be thrilled to learn that it looks like one of the genre's most beloved on-screen cowboys is finally on the trail back home. And this time the news comes directly from the man himself.

In a phone conversation earlier today, Sam Elliott mentioned to Taylor Fogarty, entertainment editor for American Western Magazine, that he has in hand a script called WINTER ANGEL.

"It's a real dark western," Elliott said, "but it's a good one."

Sam Elliott's western fans have endured a long but hopeful wait. Elliott's last gallop in the genre was back in 1999 with the television movie YOU KNOW MY NAME.

Since then the veteran actor has been plying his craft up on the silver screen, taking on more challenging roles in such mainstream films as THE CONTENDER (2001), WE WERE SOLDIERS (2002), THE HULK (2003), and the upcoming OFF THE MAP (2004).

WINTER ANGEL (based on the novel The Kid) will be filmed in New Mexico, beginning in 2005. More details will follow as the project firms up. Elliott sounded very optimistic about this new western, adding, "There's a lot of real talented people involved in it."