Why did HBO turn down 'Yellowstone'? Taylor Sheridan reveals network's problem with Kelly Reilly's character
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Before bringing 'Yellowstone' to Paramount, Taylor Sheridan had approached several networks, including HBO, with his pitch for the modern Western series. In discussing the process, the 53-year-old filmmaker revealed HBO's criticisms of the show as he sought to secure its production.
Sheridan delved into why the network held negative sentiments towards Kelly Reilly's character Beth Dutton. According to Sheridan, HBO expressed their dislike for the character and even anticipated that women would not respond favorably to her, per The Hollywood Reporter. "We think she’s too abrasive. We want to tone her down. Women won’t like her," Sheridan said about what HBO execs told him about the character.
'Beth says the thing you wish you’d said'
Sheridan, however, disagreed with HBO's assessment and recognized that their judgment of Beth Dutton was incorrect. "Because Beth says the quiet part out loud every time. When someone’s rude to you in a restaurant, or cuts you off in the parking lot, Beth says the thing you wish you’d said."
HBO further engaged in extensive discussions and deliberations regarding whether to give the series a green light, considering various factors that contributed to their back-and-forth decision-making process. One of the other challenges he faced when pitching 'Yellowstone' to HBO was their preference for Robert Redford to play the role of John Dutton instead of Kevin Costner.
'We meant a Robert Redford type'
"They said, ‘If you can get us Robert Redford, we’ll greenlight the pilot,’" he recalled. "I drive to Sundance and spend the day with [Redford] 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 sh*t up — ‘We meant a Robert Redford type.’"
Following HBO's decision to pass on the show, Sheridan regained the rights to 'Yellowstone' and explored other potential networks, including TNT and TBS, in an attempt to find a new home for the series. Ultimately, the show found its place on Paramount after being picked up by the network.
