Taylor Sheridan has had his hands full with two incredibly demanding shows. Both Yellowstone and the Mayor of Kingstown have some of the most talented actors and actresses. With the work and dedication that has gone into the making of the shows, there is no doubt that the fanbase is just as strong.
It takes a great amount of understanding to perfect shows and the characters within them, something that can be tampered with because of divided attention.
To counter such a problem, there are many ways. Whether it goes to smaller levels such as focus exercises or simply vigorous practice. Sometimes, however, it can go so far as to leave one project for another.
That very concept isn’t too bizarre or rare either. In fact, there are many actors and actresses who left previously promised roles for the reason of prioritizing shows and movies. Such was the case with Hugh Dillon as well.
Taylor Sheridan Takes an Eye for an Eye
Taylor Sheridan had a big task when it came to managing not one but two shows. This came with the opportunity to explore something bigger and better. Hugh Dillon, who previously played Sheriff Donnie Haskell in Yellowstone was presented with a chance to do something he never saw coming. In an interview with Comicbook, Dillon explained the events that took place.
“‘Okay, we’ve sold Mayor, you’re gonna learn how to produce it. You gotta listen to me, you gotta trust me and I’m there.’ And he goes, ‘And I wrote you an honorable death in Yellowstone and then you’re gonna move right into Mayor.'”
When Sheridan first pitched the Mayor of Kingstown, Dillon was still working on Yellowstone. However, as the time came, so did their decisions. To make sure Dillon took on the role of creator as well as Ian in Jeremy Renner’s show, it was necessary for his focus to be undivided.
In the midst of incorporating that, Sheridan took a step further. He decided to kill off Dillon’s character in Yellowstone, albeit honorably.
Hugh Dillon Thought Mayor of Kingstown was a Hopeless Case
In his interview with Comicbook, Hugh Dillon admitted that Taylor Sheridan brought him to Yellowstone with the hope that the Mayor of Kingstown would be greenlit someday. After having worked with each other on Wind River, the rest only came naturally.
“I’ve been working with Taylor (Sheridan) for my whole career, but you know, he got me come and work with Renner on Wind River. We were shooting in Utah and then he said, ‘Come and work on Yellowstone, we haven’t sold Mayor, but we will.’ He kept, you know, reassuring (me), ‘We’re gonna sell it, we’re gonna get there.’ And I’m like, ‘It’s been 10 years dude, but whatever.'”
This constant pitching seemed to not be going anywhere since the series was 10 years into the making. Sheridan kept saying again and again about how there would be a day when the series would see the light of day, but Dillon wasn’t seeing it.
He found the pitch going nowhere despite the absolute dedication that had been put into making it. So when the Mayor of Kingstown did make its way into reality, producing the show was definitely not out of the question.
