Rockstar fans are patiently awaiting Red Dead Redemption 3, though it's unclear who will helm the third entry in the vaunted series, and a sequel hasn't been announced. Red Dead Redemption 2 rounded out the stories of John Marston and Arthur Morgan, sufficiently exploring their life, redemption, and eventual death at the conclusion of each game. Well-known characters like Dutch and Hosea are unlikely candidates, given that players already know how each of their stories ends. The appeal of making Arthur and John protagonists, and part of what kept their stories compelling from start to finish, lay in the unknowns.
While there's much debate over who would make a suitably heroic protagonist, there is an ideal candidate sitting in plain sight in the original Red Dead Redemption. Landon Ricketts, the legendary gunslinger from the height of the American West, would make the perfect protagonist of the next Red Dead game. He's a character whose intrigue among the playerbase is founded on what they've heard, not seen, about his life. Combined with a desire for a game set during the high watermark of the Wild West era, Landon Ricketts would make a perfect protagonist in Red Dead Redemption 3.
The Story of Landon Ricketts in Red Dead Redemption
Not much is known about the early life of Landon Ricketts. He was a renowned gunslinger during the height of the Wild West, so much so that stories of his legendary exploits were well-known by the time gunslingers like John and Arthur were coming of age. Players have already heard of his more well-known stories, such as his famed duel against The Butcher Brothers in 1896.
A cigarette card featuring an image of The Butcher Brothers can be found in Red Dead Redemption 2, further fueling the mystery and intrigue behind Ricketts' adversaries during his days in the Wild West. While Red Dead Redemption 2 captured the spirit of the Wild West in many ways, Arthur's story ultimately takes place in the closing chapters of that era. Players have been clamoring for a game set in the Wild West proper for some time now.
According to a newspaper article found in Red Dead Redemption, Landon was in some way involved in The Blackwater Massacre that kicks off the events of Red Dead Redemption 2. The article never clarifies exactly how Ricketts was involved, but he's cited as a "survivor" of the massacre. Apparently, it affected Ricketts so deeply that he decided to hang up his hat and move to Chuparosa in 1902 to live a quieter life. The Blackwater Massacre could serve as a promising pretext for Red Dead Redemption's next prequel.
Landon Ricketts and the World of Red Dead Redemption
The Blackwater Massacre is among the most compelling expositional frames in recent history, and the mystery surrounding that day reason why Red Dead Redemption 2 continues to be so popular. The fact that The Blackwater Massacre bookended Ricketts's career as a gunslinger dovetails nicely with the starting point of Red Dead Redemption 2, making it the perfect ending point for Red Dead Redemption 3. Finally, players could get a first-hand look at exactly what went down in Blackwater.
But despite these tangential connections to the Van der Linde gang's activities, the most compelling reason to feature Ricketts in the next Red Dead Redemption game is that he's not directly involved in the origin stories of John, Arthur, Dutch, and the rest of the gang. Ricketts is a legendary figure in his own right, and his narrative can stand on its own legs without needing to rehash origin stories or repeat content from Red Dead Redemption 2.
This is what disqualifies Dutch as a possible protagonist for another Red Dead prequel. While many would like to see a younger Dutch in action, players know his descent into madness well. Again, John and Arthur were compelling protagonists because players didn't know how their stories would unfold: John's demise wasn't foretold, and Arthur was an entirely unknown character when Red Dead Redemption 2 was released.
The vast majority of Ricketts' story is shrouded in legend, leaving plenty of room for creative license. And given that Ricketts was a contemporary of Dutch, Colm O'Driscoll, Black Belle, and even a young Arthur during the earlier days of the Wild West, they could even make an appearance in the gunslinger's story. While it'll likely be some time before the next Red Dead Redemption game is released, it's never too early to start thinking about the next story players want to experience.
Red Dead Redemption 2 is available now for PC, PS4, and Xbox One.
