Taylor Sheridan’s Yellowstone was met with mixed reviews upon its premiere but the show went on to age like fine wine with its subsequent seasons. The neo-western series also got itself two prequel series, 1883 and 1923. Soon, fans will get to see two more spin-offs – 6666 and 1944 – which have already been confirmed by Paramount. Clearly, Taylor Sheridan is not coming in slow.
In a recent interview, Taylor Sheridan was asked about the level of creative freedom he has had while working with Paramount. To this, the creator of the show had nothing to say except unending praise for the former chief of Paramount, the late Robert Evans, who was responsible for some of the best movies that the company had made, including The Godfather.
Taylor Sheridan Talks about Paramount’s Robert Evans
Taylor Sheridan is a once-in-a-generation creative powerhouse. He has created some of the best television shows in modern America which is why publications love to pick his mind about his creative endeavors. In a fascinating conversation with Deadline, the Yellowstone co-creator dished about various aspects of the spinoff series 1923.
Midway into the interview, he was asked about his unique approach to filmmaking. The interviewer was apparently struck by the autonomy afforded to the acclaimed director. Sheridan then explained how he got this freedom, crediting the late Robert Evans for the same.
He credited Evans for being a great visionary, who gave his subordinates artistic freedom and space to make great films, and this stemmed from his experience as a filmmaker himself.
“No one has had the freedom I’ve had since Robert Evans ran Paramount. Bobby Evans had made movies before he became the head of the studio and so he understood how to turn them loose. If you trust them, trust them, and turn them loose.”
Sheridan went on to praise the great Hollywood icon and said:
“And under his regime, Paramount made some of the best movies they’d ever made, some of the best movies ever made. The Godfather being one of them. Love Story, many others. Bet on Al Pacino. Al Pacino had to borrow five dollars from them to get to the premiere.”
The creator of 1923 seems super appreciative of Evans’ liberal & hands-off approach during his time as head of Paramount Pictures. Sheridan has exhibited the same spirit in his work and dealings with other industry collaborators making him the true heir and modern-day incarnate of Evans.
HBO rejected Taylor Sheridan’s Yellowstone
When Paramount Pictures finally said yes to his idea, Sheridan told them that they would be spending a lot of money on the show and wouldn’t have any creative control over it. Clearly, Sheridan knows what he wants and he doesn’t like anyone interfering (via The Hollywood Reporter). Understandable.
However, before Paramount was brought into the picture, Sheridan had pitched the show to HBO and the script was under the company’s former programming president, Michael Lombardo.
Talking to THR, he stated that he called the show, “The Godfather in Montana.” While this should’ve been enough to pique their interest, HBO was not convinced. Not even when Sheridan stated that he would get Kevin Costner to play John Dutton. Apparently, HBO wanted the Indecent Proposal actor Robert Redford in the role.
Sheridan was not going to give up and he made sure that HBO’s request was fulfilled. When he finally got Redford to agree, the company told him that they were not looking for Redford, but rather an actor like Redford.
“They said, ‘If you can get us Robert Redford, we’ll greenlight the pilot…’I drive to Sundance and spend the day with [Redford] and he agrees to play John Dutton. I call the senior vice president in charge of production and say, ‘I got him!’ ‘You got who?’ ‘Robert Redford.’ ‘What?!‘ ‘You said if I got Robert Redford, you’d greenlight the show.’ And he says — and you can’t make this sh-t up — ‘We meant a Robert Redford type.’”
When the show’s co-creator John Linson met with HBO’s VP and asked them dead straight why they weren’t interested, they replied that it felt “so Middle America” and that HBO was more “avant-garde.”
Despite his efforts HBO didn’t call him back. Luckily, things changed with Lombardo exiting the company and returning Yellowstone’s script to Sheridan. He could finally pitch his show to others. He went to TNT and TBS and finally, Paramount came as the show’s savior.
Stream Yellowstone on Peacock Premium and the spin-offs on Paramount+.
