“I don’t think they’re doing it because Yellowstone is good”: Taylor Sheridan Has a Good Reason to Believe His Show Didn’t Revive the Western Genre That He Calls a ‘Fad’

Created by Taylor Sheridan and starring Kevin Costner, the Western drama Yellowstone has become one of the biggest shows on modern television. The series’ success is evidenced by its colossal viewership figures and expansion into multiple spin-offs such as 1883 and 1923 along with several upcoming shows.

Many have even credited the show for reviving the beloved genre. However, Sheridan does not seem to believe that, as he described the success of the Emmy-nominated TV series as part of a passing trend that has captured the attention of the audience.

Taylor Sheridan’s Candid Reflection on Yellowstone’s Success

The massive success and the remarkable viewership of Yellowstone did not go unnoticed, with many other studios and production companies introducing their own neo-Western shows, including the ‘Walker, Texas Ranger’ reboot Walker, and Outer Range.

However, in an interview, Taylor Sheridan expressed skepticism about the industry’s sudden interest in the genre. The showrunner highlighted that it’s not the show that has generated interest in the Western genre, but, its success and the numbers that it brought in. He told Variety,

“So I don’t know that it’s flattering, because I don’t think they’re doing it because ‘Yellowstone’ is good — They’re doing it because 15 million people watch it. And they’re like: ‘A lot of people watch Westerns. Let’s make Westerns.”

Sheridan’s remark highlights the broader trend in the entertainment industry, where commercial success often drives creative decisions. Following its premiere in 2018, the series has continued to gain traction with its subsequent seasons.

The Western drama is set to be concluded with the upcoming season, which is scheduled to release in November 2024. However, Sheridan will continue his neo-Western storytelling in the prequel and sequel spin-offs of the show.

Kevin Costner is Open to Work With Taylor Sheridan

As the Western drama gears up for its final season, there have been numerous discussions surrounding Kevin Costner‘s, who plays patriarch John Dutton, return to the series. The actor left the show after the release of Season 5 due to scheduling conflicts.

Showrunner, Taylor Sheridan has also expressed disappointment with his abrupt exit from the series. However, in a recent interview with Entertainment Weekly, the 69-year-old actor expressed his wish to work with Sheridan in any potential future projects.

“He’s doing special work in a lot of different ways. He’s very prolific about the things he does, and if he sees me in something that he wants to do, I’ll look at it just the way I did Yellowstone and maybe we will end up doing something together.” 

However, despite his interest, the actor shared that he has still not discussed his return to the series finale with the showrunner. “No, we haven’t [talked],” he said, leaving fans uncertain over the prospect of John Dutton in the Western drama.

Yellowstone is available to stream on Peacock.