Well, isn’t it fascinating how sometimes art imitates life, and at times, it seems to imitate other art? It’s no secret that Hollywood is a place where ideas are constantly recycled, reimagined, and repackaged. As we eagerly await the release of Horizon: An American Saga, Kevin Costner accusing Taylor Sheridan of ‘borrowing’ a Yellowstone storyline hits a familiar note in the cinematic symphony.
This accusation even may have raised a few eyebrows. After all, Sheridan himself has been open about drawing inspiration from various sources for his works. After seeing how Sheridan’s 1883 echoes the rugged essence of the untamed American landscape—much like Costner’s narrative—it is difficult not to nod in agreement when Costner said at Cannes that aspects of his American frontier story may have inspired the Yellowstone creator.
Taylor Sheridan’s Western Influence Under Scrutiny in Yellowstone
Kevin Costner and Taylor Sheridan have allegedly been at odds for more than a year, particularly in light of one of the spin-offs of Yellowstone. The actor has been discussing the aforementioned conflict as his movie Horizon: An American Saga gets ready for its 2024 release.
He has also been questioned about other possible flashpoints, such as the similarities in plot between his film and Sheridan’s spinoff series, 1883. Now that he has addressed it, he has added a little gasoline to the fire that Yellowstone stories may have taken inspiration from other Westerns.
Costner told IndieWire that he and his Horizon: An American Saga co-writer Jon Baird sent Sheridan the screenplay for their movie when the creator of Yellowstone was looking for writers for the second season. Journalist Anne Thompson then brought up the subject of the wagon train plot in Sheridan’s 1883 series and Costner’s film. In response, the John Dutton actor said:
So I don’t know if there’s any duplications there. Whether he borrowed something, only he’d have to admit to.
In a landscape saturated with sequels, reboots, and adaptations, it’s not uncommon for filmmakers to draw inspiration from each other’s work.
The Impact of Other Filmmakers on Taylor Sheridan’s Work
Earlier, Taylor Sheridan himself admitted that he got ideas for his projects from a variety of places.
In a candid interview with the Motion Picture Association, Sheridan admitted to being influenced by the Coen Brothers and other filmmakers. He even quoted a famous director who once told him:
The Coen Brothers are very influential filmmakers on me as well. But I was not consciously doing it. I was once told by very a famous director about borrowing from other directors, ‘Listen, we are all thieves’.
This information undoubtedly illuminates the Yellowstone creative process and raises the possibility that Kevin Costner’s allegations were not entirely unjustified. But does this mean that Sheridan deliberately copied elements from Costner’s project? Or is it simply a case of two talented storytellers exploring similar themes and historical periods?
Only time will tell how the release of Horizon: An American Saga will impact the ongoing success of Yellowstone and its upcoming second part of the last season.
Finally, Hollywood’s debate over creative ownership is nothing new. We hope Costner and Sheridan’s shared love for Western storytelling may just bring them closer together rather than driving them apart. After all, as the famous director once said, ‘We are all thieves’.
Yellowstone is streaming on Peacock.
