Forgotten John Wayne Film Remains Unreleased Since 1980s

NEW YORK, NY — Movie fans are still searching for a long-lost John Wayne film, “Thunder Riders of the Golden West,” which has never been released. Directed by Wayne’s friend Dave Burleson, the neo-Western with sci-fi themes was produced in the 1980s, years after Wayne’s death in 1979.

The film follows a group of truckers who venture to an atomic bomb test site in search of gold. The atomic explosions reportedly trigger various sci-fi occurrences, providing a unique twist to the traditional Western genre.

According to Burleson, this film was set to be Wayne’s final on-screen appearance, although it was not the last project he filmed. “Thunder Riders of the Golden West” is notable for its scarcity and lack of availability; it does not have an IMDb or Wikipedia page and was initially expected to be released on DVD in 2009.

At the time, Burleson announced plans to distribute the DVD himself, but details on purchasing methods were never shared. As of now, copies of the film seem to be hidden, leaving it as a cult curiosity.

Interestingly, Wayne has not starred in any other sci-fi films, adding to the mystery of “Thunder Riders of the Golden West.” Even if Wayne’s involvement was limited to a cameo due to the film’s independent nature, its release would certainly captivate fans looking for something different from the iconic actor.

For now, the fate of “Thunder Riders of the Golden West” remains uncertain, and movie enthusiasts will have to remain patient for a potential future release.