The ‘Yellowstone’ Empire: How Taylor Sheridan Struck TV Gold by Reinventing the Western
variety.comTaylor Sheridan, showrunner and architect of the fast-expanding “Yellowstone” universe, excels at creating modern Western characters because he is exactly that.When Variety catches up with Sheridan for an in-depth look at the narrative worlds he is crafting for Paramount TV platforms, it is at the Schmersal horse ranch near Scottsdale, Ariz.
Keen-eyed viewers may recognize the location from “The Last Cowboy,” the reality series that Sheridan executive produces.Sheridan arrives for the interview outfitted in a cowboy hat, aviator sunglasses, a denim jacket and jeans, a torn white T-shirt and boots with spurs that jangle every time he moves his feet.
He has just come from an equestrian workout, riding a horse in a large covered arena where he has practiced reining, or leading, the animal through a series of spins, stops and circles.
But Sheridan is not a man indulging in a boyhood fantasy of being a cowboy, nor is he donning a costume. Rather, the Schmersal setting offers a glimpse into the key to Sheridan’s success in the neo-Western space: his authenticity.“For me, a sense of place is so incredibly important,” he says. “When I wrote ‘Yellowstone,’ I went to Montana.
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