Taylor Sheridan had meticulously constructed a respectable path as an actor. While not a marquee name, he maintained a consistent presence over the years, securing recurring roles in series like Sons of Anarchy and Veronica Mars – a trajectory many in the industry would deeply covet. Despite this, a sense of creative satisfaction eluded him. Thus, he ventured into screenwriting, and his debut was nothing short of impressive: Sicario, an intense, emotionally resonant film featuring Emily Blunt, Josh Brolin, and Benicio Del Toro.
At present, Sheridan is shepherding two additional scripts through different phases of production. The upcoming Hell or High Water, helmed by David Mackenzie of Starred Up fame, boasts a cast featuring Chris Pine and Jeff Bridges. Meanwhile, Wind River stands as Sheridan’s inaugural directorial effort, set to feature Elizabeth Olsen and Jeremy Renner in prominent roles.
Sicario Had A Different Ending That Didn’t Make The Cut
In a conversation with Uproxx, Taylor Sheridan fielded a question that delved into the original script of Sicario. The query probed whether the closing sequence, which [spoiler alert] depicted the drug lord’s entire family being eliminated, was initially envisioned with lesser violence.
Responding, Taylor Sheridan explained that the original depiction involved a distinct kind of violence. Initially, the character Alejandro engaged in torturing Fausto Alarcon before his family. In this version, he urged the wife to relocate the children, guiding them towards professions like medicine or law instead of drug-related endeavors, thereby avoiding their potential execution. Subsequently, a rewrite was introduced, followed by an intense internal conflict. Producers engaged in fervent debates, and both renditions were filmed. Ultimately, the decision hinged on audience reactions, determined through focus group testing.
“It was a different violence. In the original, what Alejandro did was simply torture Fausto Alarcon in front of his family. Then essentially, he told the wife to take the children far away. Raise them to be doctors or lawyers and not drug dealers so he doesn’t have to come back and kill them. I wrote the rewrite, and then fought against it and internally it was a massive fight. The producers were arguing amongst themselves. Eventually, they shot both versions and tested it [with focus group audiences] to see which one people most responded to.”
Sicario went on to make $85 million on the global box office.
Taylor Sheridan Praised For His Writing In Oscar-winning Film
Taylor Sheridan, a filmmaker frequently commended for his narrative prowess, gained acclaim for crafting the plot of 2016’s Hell or High Water. During a conversation with TheWrap in the same year, Sheridan elaborated that the film’s release impeccably coincided with the opportune moment.
“We just went through the election, it was a pretty painful one, and the country feels more polarized and more torn apart than before – there’s so much apprehension. I’ve heard people say Hell or High Water is the voice of this frustrated, forgotten middle class. I thought it would be unifying, and I think it can [help us] recognize, ‘Oh wow, poor is just poor, and corporate greed is corporate greed. Look how similar we are.'”
The underlying concept driving the film was to cast a spotlight on the challenges faced by individuals situated within the middle class.
Sicario is available for streaming on Paramount+.
Source: Uproxx
