Yellowstone Nearly Starred Robert Redford on HBO

Yellowstone co-creator Taylor Sheridan has revealed that Robert Redford nearly played Kevin Costner’s role of John Dutton.

Was Robert Redford originally going to star in Yellowstone?

In a feature from The Hollywood Reporter, Sheridan recounted the experience of trying to get Yellowstone greenlit at HBO before Paramount nabbed it. He was told to get Robert Redford, which led to a peculiar misunderstanding.

“They said, ‘We want Robert Redford,’” Sheridan stated. “They said, ‘If you can get us Robert Redford, we’ll greenlight the pilot’ … I drive to Sundance and spend the day with him and he agrees to play John Dutton. I call the senior vice president in charge of production and say, ‘I got him!’ ‘You got who?’ ‘Robert Redford.’ ‘What?!‘ ‘You said if I got Robert Redford, you’d greenlight the show.’ And he says — and you can’t make this shit up — ‘We meant a Robert Redford type.’”

After a crisis meeting that featured some jabs about the series’ “Middle America” feel and the character of Beth, Sheridan chose to not go with HBO.

“We go to lunch in some snazzy place in West L.A.,” Sheridan said. “And [Yellowstone co-creator] John Linson finally asks: ‘Why don’t you want to make it?’ And the vp goes: ‘Look, it just feels so Middle America. We’re HBO, we’re avant-garde, we’re trendsetters. This feels like a step backward. And frankly, I’ve got to be honest, I don’t think anyone should be living out there [in rural Montana]. It should be a park or something.’“

Following Kevin Costner’s shocking exit, Paramount Network announced Yellowstone will end its run after Season 5. The show is currently on mid-season break, and slated to release its remaining six episodes in November 2023. Despite this, it has been confirmed a Yellowstone sequel is in development.

“The series chronicles the Dutton family, led by John Dutton, who controls the largest contiguous cattle ranch in the United States,” reads the synopsis. “Amid shifting alliances, unsolved murders, open wounds, and hard-earned respect — the ranch is in constant conflict with those it borders – an expanding town, an Indian reservation, and America’s first national park.”

Yellowstone is created by Taylor Sheridan and John Linson. It stars Kevin Costner, Luke Grimes, Kelly Reilly, Wes Bentley, Cole Hauser, Kelsey Asbille, Brecken Merrill, Jefferson White, Forrie Smith, Denim Richards, Ian Bohen, Finn Little, Ryan Bingham, Gil Birmingham, Jen Landon, and Kathryn Kelly.

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