Taylor Sheridan talks Matthew McConaugheys role Kevin Costners exit in telling profile - The Dallas Morning News

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Taylor Sheridan opened up about his stable of TV dramas, revealing new details on how Matthew McConaughey fits in, Kevin Costner’s exit and what it took to get Yellowstone produced in the first place.

Sheridan, who was reared in Fort Worth and now lives in Weatherford, covered the hot-button issues and more in the June 21 edition of The Hollywood Reporter.

In an in-depth profile, Sheridan detailed how he started out as a struggling actor before moving to writing scripts. It led to the development of Yellowstone, which has been a lucrative title for Paramount Network.

Yellowstone has spawned prequels and sequels that showcase the Dutton family as they navigate parts of the 19th and 20th centuries. The cast has included Costner, who is leaving the series after five seasons to pursue his own four-movie Western epic.

Paramount Network confirmed in early May that Yellowstone would end with the final episodes of season 5. However, an in-the-works sequel could feature a few familiar faces from the flagship series.

Where McConaughey fits in

McConaughey emerged as a possible entrant in Sheridan’s universe in February. A Paramount Network spokesperson called the actor a “phenomenal talent with whom we’d love to partner.”

Sheridan told The Hollywood Reporter that McConaughey “seems like a natural fit” to lead a “new chapter” in the Yellowstone saga.

“We had a few conversations over the years, and spitballed a few ideas,” Sheridan said. “Then he started watching Yellowstone and responded to it. He was like, ‘I want to do that.’ And by ‘that’ he meant diving into a raw world clashing up against the modern world. And then I said, ‘Buddy, that we can do.’”

Sheridan is disappointed about Costner’s departure

Neither Sheridan nor Costner had commented publicly about the actor’s departure. In April, they missed a scheduled panel discussion at PaleyFest in Hollywood, stoking rumors about behind-the-scenes drama.

Sheridan told THR he was disappointed but not surprised by Costner’s exit.

“It truncates the closure of his character. It doesn’t alter it, but it truncates it,” Sheridan said.

“He took a lot of this on the chin and I don’t know that anyone deserves it. His movie seems to be a great priority to him and he wants to shift focus. I sure hope [the movie is] worth it — and that it’s a good one.

Sheridan on pitching ‘Yellowstone’

It started out as a script for a movie, The Godfather in Montana, and
ended up in series development at HBO, Sheridan told THR.

Sheridan said then-programming president Michael Lombardo was supportive, but the rest of his team wasn’t.

“The idea of doing a modern-classic Western was a great idea — we were always doing urban shows, and this felt fresh,” Lombardo told THR.

Sheridan and the HBO execs agreed that the series needed a big star to play John Dutton. Sheridan said he pitched Costner, but HBO execs didn’t see it.

“They said, ‘We want Robert Redford,’” Sheridan said. ”If you can get us Robert Redford, we’ll greenlight the pilot.”

Sheridan drove to the Sundance Film Festival and got Redford’s commitment to play Dutton.

He called an executive to deliver the good news. “I got him!” Sheridan said.

“And,” Sheridan recalled, “he says — and you can’t make this s--- up — ‘We meant a Robert Redford type.’”

HBO balked. Sheridan shopped Yellowstone to other networks, including TNT and TBS. Paramount bit and the show debuted in 2018.

Will there be a longer wrap-up for ‘Yellowstone’?

Paramount announced that Yellowstone will return in November. But the timeline now looks unlikely given the Writers Guild of America strike, which Sheridan told THR he supports.

There is, at least, a silver lining: Sheridan told THR he might make more than the previously reported six final episodes.

“If I think it takes 10 episodes to wrap it up, they’ll give me 10,” Sheridan said. “It’ll be as long as it needs to be.”

“Yellowstone” creator Taylor Sheridan (left) and actor Cole Hauser talk with fans as they sign autographs at the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo in Fort Worth, Friday, Feb. 3, 2023. Hundreds of fans waited in line for the autograph session, some as early as 10 a.m. for the 4:30 p.m. event.(Elías Valverde II / Staff Photographer)