After creating the critically acclaimed western series Yellowstone, Taylor Sheridan teamed up with actor Hugh Dillon to write his next big show, Mayor Of Kingstown, starring Jeremy Renner in the lead. After gaining a lot of success with fans and critics, the Paramount series has now been renewed for a 3rd season which will air in June 2024.
While the series premiered in 2021, Sheridan wrote the pilot script as early as 2011 even before Yellowstone was conceived. Despite many major production houses and networks showing interest, Sheridan refused to give in owing to one steadfast condition that he had for the series which he was unwilling to compromise on while envisioning it.
Taylor Sheridan Firmly Stuck To His Guns While Pitching Mayor Of Kingstown
Few celebrities can make the seamless transition from the acting space to the writing and directing zone. Taylor Sheridan has proved that he is one of them. The Veronica Mars actor showcased his skill for the written word and his prowess behind the camera through his blockbuster western drama Yellowstone which has earned him high praise.
Sheridan followed this up with the 2021 thriller series Mayor Of Kingstown starring Jeremy Renner which will now have a 3rd season in June 2024. Interestingly, the Sons of Anarchy star had written the pilot script for the show way back in 2011 and revealed the massive interest it generated. In a chat with The Hollywood Reporter, he stated,
But the first thing I ever wrote [the pilot for Mayor of Kingstown in 2011] got me meetings at every major network, at every agency. I had multiple people trying to buy it.
While any other person in his place would have jumped at the opportunity with eyes closed, Sheridan refused to be sucked into this path. The star revealed that his only condition for having his script visualized was that he would be given the full freedom to write the story his way without any third party stepping in to change or adapt his ideas differently.
While his attitude could have made people in the industry feel that he was unmalleable and unwilling to be a team player, Sheridan stuck to his guns and refused to give an inch. As a result, the script lay dormant for almost a decade before finding its feet in 2021, with the director succeeding in creating it on exactly his initial terms.
Taylor Sheridan Was The Perfect Mentor For This Actor
After starring in Taylor Sheridan’s Yellowstone as Sheriff Donnie Baskell, actor Hugh Dillon took his relationship with the director a step further by collaborating with him as a writer and creator on the thriller series Mayor Of Kingstown. The show starring Jeremy Renner in the lead role, also saw Dillon in front of the camera once again wearing the detective cloak.
The series which impressed audiences and critics in its first two seasons, will return for a 3rd season in June 2024. In an interview with Screen Rant, Dillon spoke about many aspects of the show including the complexities and nuances of his character and his relationship to the central protagonist.
He also touched upon his relationship with Sheridan from his Yellowstone days to the current Paramount series. The Canadian singer-turned-actor was all praise for the Sons of Anarchy star and his influence in his evolution as a writer. Speaking of how Sheridan consistently mentored him through this process, he said,
He’s always been my teacher; he was my coach before he was the Taylor Sheridan of the Taylorverse, and this was the first show he ever wrote. I went over to his house with a printer and said, ‘You can find the character and find the motivation. You can build the world and all of it. You can write this’. And he coached me.
Dillon also recalled how the Veronica Mars star would constantly encourage him to follow his dreams of becoming a writer, which eventually led to him putting pen to paper. He also spoke about the organic nature of their collaboration that resulted in a wonderful working relationship with Sheridan.
Mayor Of Kingstown is streaming on Paramount Plus.
