Jeremy Renner has tasted great success juggling between character-driven dramas and big studio blockbusters. Before his Avengers fame, the actor starred in many compelling drams like Dahmer, Neo Ned, 28 Weeks Later, and The Hurt Locker where he showed off his incredible acting chops. He went on to star in the MCU and the Mission Impossible franchise.
He returned to the world of indie dramas with 2017’s Wind River, which was directed by Taylor Sheridan. Renner had a great working relationship with Sheridan on that film that he didn’t even feel the need to read the script of Mayor of Kingstown, and blindly trusted the filmmaker to give him another banger.
Jeremy Renner Didn’t Read A Script While Signing on Mayor of Kingstown
Jeremy Renner and Taylor Sheridan first worked on the 2017 crime drama Wind River. The actor played Cory Lambert, a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service tracker, who tries to investigate a murder that is eerily similar to the one that happened to his daughter. along with Elizabeth Olsen’s Jane Banner. The actor immediately connected and fell in love with Sheridan while working on the film.
The duo reunited on the hit Paramount+ series Mayor of Kingstown. When Sheridan approached Renner for the show, Renner accepted to be the lead by just listening to Sheridan’s pitch for the show. He revealed this surprising fact in a recent episode of the Happy Sad Confused podcast.
The actor stated that Wind River was his favorite job he’s ever had in his career and thus he had total trust in Sheridan as a filmmaker. So, with Mayor of Kingstown, he did not feel the need to read any script and just agreed to do it, believing Sheridan’s capability as a writer. Renner said,
We were in early talks about a lot of different things. He just created so much material that, you know, I never get to work with the guy anymore. He’s just too busy creating shows and run the shows, you know.
Wind River is my favorite job. But with this one, I signed on to do the first season of Mayor of Kingstown without reading a word of it, just off what was kinda pitched to me over the phone, and I wanna work with him again so let’s do it.
Renner’s complete faith in Sheridan paid off as Mayor of Kingstown became one of the leading shows on Paramount+. The series already has had a successful 2-season run and is currently back with a third season. Sheridan is a total hitmaker and Renner has the experience to recognize one when he sees them.
Jeremy Renner Loved the Simplicity of Taylor Sheridan’s Storytelling in Wind River
Jeremy Renner returned to his indie roots with 2017’s Wind River. The actor was drawn to the paternal role in the film along with the complex themes that Taylor Sheridan put in it. However, he also felt that it also provided a sense of simplicity that he was excited to commit to.
In an interview with Collider, Renner expressed his love for his character who had a definite masculine trait but had a vulnerable side to him. The Marvel star felt that Sheridan’s writing was fantastic yet simple, and was a story that was very important to get out in the world. Renner said,
There’s a … I mean initially, it was the father aspect of the role and then sort of the essence of the complications of being a very masculine man but being very very very sensitive and very actionable about how he went about things.
The writing was just fantastic and then it was a very just important story that I really wanted to be a part of. I love the simplicity of the storytelling…but I think thematically I think you can draw those comparisons.
The film was loved by audiences and was also a hit grossing $43 million against a $11 million budget (via Box Office Mojo). Renner’s subtle and affecting performance in Wind River is among the finest in his career. The duo are back together in Mayor of Kingstown season 3 and the actor has also signed on for Knives Out 3.
Fans can watch Mayor of Kingstown on Paramount+.
