Anna Daniels
Yellowstone fans have Taylor Sheridan and John Linson to thank for bringing the series to life — Sheridan especially, as he first began setting the groundwork for what would become Yellowstone way back in 2013. If Sheridan’s name is ringing a bell, it’s probably because he’s one of Hollywood’s biggest up-and-coming, behind-the-scenes talents. After a short career as an actor that saw him taking on a small part on Veronica Mars and a recurring role as Deputy Chief of Police David Hale on Sons of Anarchy, Sheridan decided to move behind the camera. In fact, it was his weariness of acting that turned him to screenwriting in the first place, and thus motivated him to create Yellowstone.
Sheridan is best known for his first two efforts as a screenwriter. 2015’s Sicario, a visceral tale of an FBI agent’s descent into the world of Mexico’s cartel wars, was met with widespread acclaim (and features one of the greatest movie one-liners right before someone dies). Sheridan’s follow-up, the modern western Hell or High Water, nabbed him an Oscar nomination for Best Original Screenplay. He also wrote and directed the 2017 film Wind River before successfully pitching his idea for Yellowstone.
The impetus for Yellowstone came from a desire to tell a story about gentrification in the American west. In an interview with Deadline Sheridan explained, “It is the most American of us, the West, and land developers sell that fantasy. And people who can afford the fantasy are very, very wealthy people from LA to New York, Dallas and Florida… In the process, those land values and inheritance taxes are killing a way of life.”
Written by: Looper
