THR’s TV Producer of the Year and Yellowstone co-creator Taylor Sheridan opened up on his views on various topics, including his unfulfilled dream that included Martin Scorsese. While discussing Yellowstone’s ending, the potential spinoffs involving Matthew McConaughey, and clashes with some studio executives, Sheridan spoke about his transformation into the mega-star that he is today.
From an obscure actor in the industry, Sheridan has now established himself as one of the most prolific writers in Hollywood. And interestingly, his transformation took him only a decade.
Taylor Sheridan revealed his unfulfilled dream involving a ranch and Martin Scorsese
During his conversation with The Hollywood Reporter, Taylor Sheridan who is known for his neo-wester storytelling style was seated at his Four Sixes ranch in remote Texas. While offering a glimpse into his thoughts and creative process, the actor-turned-writer revealed how his ranch inspired him to create Yellowstone – a series that follows the story of conflicts along the borders of Yellowstone ranch.
Sheridan’s journey from being a struggling actor with just $800 to his name to transforming into a writer and ranch owner speaks a lot about his dedication. With his breakthrough role in his first screenplay almost 12 years ago, who would have guessed that his successful screenplay about a ranch owner would actually change his life, enabling him to buy one for himself?
However, despite living out a version of his own narrative, Sheridan said that he had been involved in ranching his whole life, but wished for it to work out in a different way.
“That was my dream and I already had it. It was a great escape from the fact I was a failing actor living in West Hollywood. The plan was always to become a big movie star, then move back to a ranch and just do movies with Martin Scorsese when I felt like it.”
Though it’s clear that Sheridan wasn’t able to achieve his dream, at least not in the order he had imagined, the actor did acknowledge that maybe it was never his path anyway.
Why did Taylor Sheridan give up acting?
It’s true that the entertainment industry initially pegged the Yellowstone creator as an actor. After starring in TV series like Veronica Mars, Walker, Texas Ranger, and Sons of Anarchy, Sheridan’s writing talent soon took center stage. In fact, Sheridan also appeared in a Star Trek project, Star Trek: Enterprise, where he played the role of Jareb. However, unfortunately, his name was misspelled as ‘Tayler Sheridan’ in the credits of the episode.
Making a career transition at the age of 40 isn’t exactly an easy deal. However, after he was made Mayor of Kingdom in 2011, networks and agencies hailed his work. And straying away from the industry norms, Sheridan showed deep trust in his creative instincts.
“I spent the first 37 years of my life compromising. When I quit acting, I decided that I am going to tell my stories my way, period. If you don’t want me to tell them, fine. Give them back and I’ll find someone who does — or I won’t, and then I’ll read them in some freaking dinner theater. But I won’t compromise. There is no compromising.”
With unmatched confidence in his abilities, Sheridan’s rise continued with works Sicario, Hell or High Water, and Wind River, collectively dubbed his “modern American frontier” trilogy. Even his highly acclaimed work Yellowstone was originally conceptualized as a movie, but evolved into a series, making it the cultural phenomenon that it is today.
Source: The Hollywood Reporter
