It’s difficult to fathom a world where the immensely popular show Yellowstone doesn’t have Kevin Costner in the leading role of John Dutton. Costner, a seasoned star in the Western genre, fits perfectly in a series that explores the clash between modern society and rural life. However, in an extensive interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Taylor Sheridan, the show’s creator, revealed that he considered casting another major star, Robert Redford, as the Dutton family patriarch.
Before landing at Paramount Network and becoming a frequent record-breaker, Sheridan pitched the concept of Yellowstone to HBO executives with hopes of getting the series on the premium network. He envisioned Costner as the ideal lead, but HBO had their own ideas. “They said, ‘We want Robert Redford,'” Sheridan explained. “They said, ‘If you can get us Robert Redford, we’ll greenlight the pilot.” Redford, like Costner, is another accomplished Western actor with an Oscar under his belt. Films like “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid” have solidified his status as an icon in the industry. Yellowstone would have been a fitting return to the genre for Redford and a great career finale.
Sheridan, showcasing his ability to attract A-list talent, managed to convince Redford to take on the role. However, the executives had an unexpected twist in store for him. “I drive to Sundance and spend the day with him and he agrees to play John Dutton,” Sheridan recalled. “I call the senior vice president in charge of production and say, ‘I got him!’ ‘You got who?’ ‘Robert Redford.’ ‘What?! ‘We meant a Robert Redford type.'”
Fatigued by HBO’s indecisiveness, Sheridan and co-creator John Linson arranged a crisis meeting with the network’s vice president to determine why HBO was hesitant about giving the show the green light. Ultimately, they realized that HBO deemed the hit Western series too “Middle America” and took jabs at rural life. These offensive comments led Sheridan to seek a new home for Yellowstone.
“We go to lunch in some snazzy place in West L.A.,” Sheridan shared. “[Yellowstone co-creator] John Linson finally asks: ‘Why don’t you want to make it?’ And the vp goes: ‘Look, it just feels so Middle America. We’re HBO, we’re avant-garde, we’re trendsetters. This feels like a step backward. And frankly, I’ve got to be honest, I don’t think anyone should be living out there [in rural Montana]. It should be a park or something.’”
Despite HBO’s reservations, Sheridan and Linson turned those criticisms into motivation and transformed Yellowstone into a successful television universe. The show has a devoted fan base, two beloved spin-offs, and more on the way. As a final jab at the network, Sheridan even incorporated those comments into a Season 2 episode where a New York magazine reporter insults Montana in front of Jamie (played by Wes Bentley) and faces dire consequences.
While Sheridan and Linson were unhappy with HBO’s comments, it was the network’s criticism of fan-favorite character Beth Dutton (played by Kelly Reilly) that truly bothered them. Beth is one of Yellowstone’s most complex characters, capable of transitioning from menacing to vulnerable. Reilly’s powerful performance has made her the heart of the series. However, HBO executives found her “abrasive” and believed that women wouldn’t connect with her. Sheridan refused to let them water down one of his finest characters. “So I said to them, ‘Okay, everybody done? Who on this call is responsible for a scripted show that you guys have on the air? Oh, you’re not? Thanks.’ And I hung up. They never called back.”
As Yellowstone approaches its end with Season 5 Part 2 set to release later this year, fans can exclusively stream the series on Peacock. Check out the Season 5 trailer below.
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Khushi Patel is a science fiction author who lives in Austin, Texas. She has published three novels, and her work has been praised for its originality and imagination. Khushi is a graduate of Rice University, and she has worked as a software engineer. She is a member of the Science Fiction Writers of America, and her books have been nominated for several awards.
