When Ben Cartwright's seafaring brother, Aaron, (John Ireland) takes over the Ponderosa he signs over drilling rights to land-grabbers. Captain Aaron Cartwright's grand nephews arrive to save the ranch.[1]
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 two other television films Bonanza: The Return (1993) and Bonanza: Under Attack (1995).
None of the characters from the original series appears since the entire cast, with the exception of Pernell Roberts, Michael Landon and David Canary, had died. 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 Ben's 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.
