Bonanza: The Next Generation

Ben Cartwrights brother (John Ireland) helps his relatives and ranch hands (Robert Fuller, John Amos) save the Ponderosa from strip miners.

Bonanza: The Next Generation is a 1988 TV-movie sequel to the television series Bonanza. None of the original Cartwrights appears since the entire cast, with the exception of Pernell Roberts and Michael Landon, was dead. Lorne Greene had signed to reprise his role as patriarch Ben, but died shortly before production began. He was replaced by veteran actor John Ireland, who played Bens brother Aaron. The movie features Michael Landon, Jr. as the son of Little Joe Cartwright, and Gillian Greene, daughter of Lorne Greene, as his love interest. The film was written by David Dortort and Paul Savage, and directed by William F. Claxton. Bonanza: The Next Generation was the pilot for a television series that was never produced but was followed by Bonanza: The Return (1993) and Bonanza: Under Attack (1995).

This is the continuing saga of the Cartwrights, only none of the original Cartwrights are here anymore but their sons. Ben and Hoss have passed on, and Little Joe is MIA; he went with Teddy Roosevelt and is currently missing. Ben's brother, Aaron is now in charge of the Ponderosa, and Little Joe's wife Annie also lives there. His son, Benjamin has come back fom the East. Charlie Poke is a man who owes his life to Ben Cartwright and is now the ranch foreman, and is not exactly on good terms with Aaron. Aaron has allowed a mining company access to mine on the Ponderosa, but the man in charge has other ideas. And Hoss' son Josh whom no one has seen before, has come to the Ponderosa to kill Hoss cause he thinks Hoss deserted him and his mother not knowing that Hoss died before he could go back to bring his mother back to the Ponderosa.