Taylor Sheridan is one of the most prolific producers working in Hollywood, spawning an entire universe out of his critically acclaimed Yellowstone series. Before turning to television, Sheridan first made a breakthrough as a screenwriter with critically acclaimed movies such as Sicario and Hell or High Water.
During an interview, Sheridan spoke about what differentiates his writing style from that of other screenwriters. In the process, Sheridan perfectly highlighted how he became an enigma in Hollywood, reflected in the Yellowstone universe’s success. As a result, Sheridan must return to his roots to save the series after Kevin Costner’s exit.
Taylor Sheridan Must Remember What Made Him a Hollywood Enigma
Taylor Sheridan started his career as an actor before breaking into screenwriting, earning critical acclaim for his movies. However, the writer-producer experienced unprecedented success with his neo-Western drama series Yellowstone, which premiered in 2017.
Sheridan spoke about his writing style during an interview with Esquire. In the conversation, Sheridan revealed why his writing stood out from most other screenwriters, making him a true Hollywood enigma.
I want to tell stories that matter to me. I want to tell them in ways that I find riveting to watch. I’m gonna break all the rules I’ve been taught to as an actor for exposition and structure.
Sheridan made the above statement, underlining a streak of rebelliousness when he made his breakthrough as a screenwriter.
Meanwhile, Sheridan admitted that while rules were meant to be broken, such creative choices must serve the overall story. However, in recent times, Sheridan seems to have forgotten his original approach as his shows, especially the recent seasons of Yellowstone, have become increasingly predictable.
Taylor Sheridan’s Yellowstone Faces a Stern Test After Kevin Costner’s Exit
Taylor Sheridan’s Yellowstone has experienced trouble in the last couple of years, especially because of the uncertainty surrounding lead star Kevin Costner. However, Costner finally confirmed his exit from the series in June 2024, with the second half of its final season entering production.
It was a necessary decision to say, ‘Hey, OK, I don’t want to really talk about this anymore. It’s time to move on.
Costner made the above statement in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, finally putting to end the speculation regarding his future on the series.
Aside from losing its lead star, Yellowstone has also seen a steep decline in its quality. While the show’s ratings saw an all-time high during the first half of its fifth and final season, the overall storyline has become extremely cliched and soap opera-like.
Ultimately, if the series wants to go out on a high note, Sheridan must return to his original approach to writing. The second part of Yellowstone season 5 is slated to premiere on November 10, 2024, almost two years after the first half aired. Hence, it remains to be seen if the final installment of the epic Western saga is worth the wait after all.
Yellowstone is streaming on Peacock.
