Executives behind the Dallas re-boot are scrambling to change the show's storyline following the death of star Larry Hagman.

The veteran actor, who passed away on Friday, spent months battling cancer, but he refused to let his illness affect his career and continued working while he was undergoing treatment.

TV bosses are currently shooting the second series of the relaunched Dallas, in which Hagman reprises his role as oil tycoon J.R. Ewing from the original TV soap, and he had filmed several episodes before he was taken ill.

It has now been confirmed the show's writing team will have to alter the planned storyline in the aftermath of the tragedy. Viewers had seen Hagman's character vowing to launch a titanic battle for control of the family's business empire at the close of the debut season earlier this year.

A representative for Channel 5, the U.K. broadcaster of Dallas, tells WENN, "Dallas is midway in production on Season 2 and this sad news will be incorporated into the storyline... The team are dealing with the death before they consider the writing possibilities."

Channel 5 bosses plan to honor Hagman's memory by screening a documentary tribute in his honor, titled A Tribute to Larry Hagman: At home with JR, in the U.K. on Sunday.