Taylor Sheridan revealed that veteran actor Sam Elliott initially disliked the hit series "Yellowstone," referring to it as a "cowboy soap opera." Sheridan shared the anecdote during an appearance on The Howard Stern Show, explaining how he persuaded Elliott to join the "Yellowstone" universe for the prequel "1883."
Sheridan described the conversation with Elliott, stating, "I called him and we talked and he’s like, ‘I don’t like that Yellowstone. That’s a cowboy soap opera.’" Sheridan then clarified the distinction between the two shows, telling Elliott, "You’re right. I’m not asking you to be on that. That’s the punk rock me throwing middle fingers at the industry and a lot of other s---. This is gonna be the grown up me. I have a story I want to tell."
Following Sheridan's pitch for "1883," which focused on a specific character arc designed for Elliott, the actor responded positively, saying, "That’s beautiful. I’d love to do that." Sheridan then committed to writing the role for him, describing Elliott as "one of the most delightful human beings I have ever met, and a wizard of an actor."
Elliott, a renowned figure in Western films, starred as Shea Brennan in "1883," a prequel to "Yellowstone" that chronicles the Dutton family's original journey to Montana. The series premiered in December 2021 with two episodes on Paramount+, followed by weekly releases.
Since his involvement in "1883," Elliott has continued his collaboration with Sheridan. He also plays a significant role in Sheridan's oil drama series "Landman."
