Kevin Costner to Star in Yellowstone TV Series From Sicario Writer
Kevin Costner has officially joined Yellowstone, a new series by Sicario writer Taylor Sheridan. Costner has enjoyed a career resurgence over the last few years, from a supporting role in last year’s critically acclaimed Hidden Figures to a smaller part as Jonathan Kent in the DC Extended Universe. The Academy Award-winning actor has also starred on the smaller screen in 2012’s Hatfields & McCoys (where he won an Emmy), alongside the late Bill Paxton, though Yellowstone will signify his first television show since that show.
Sheridan has also enjoyed success over the last few years, from writing critically acclaimed movies like Sicario and last year’s Hell or High Water. This year marked his major directorial debut of Sheridan as well with Wind River, which starred Jeremy Renner and Elizabeth Olsen. Yellowstone will mark his first writing venture for television.
According to Deadline, Yellowstone will star Costner as John Dutton, a man who controls one of the largest ranches in America that is under violent attack by its neighboring borders, which includes potentially nefarious land developers and of course Yellowstone National Park. Yellowstone will make its premiere on the upcoming Paramount Network – which will effectively replace the long-running Spike network next year – and is their first scripted series thus far. The first season will consist of 10 episodes and is scheduled to go into production this fall. Paramount Network’s President Keith Cox had this to say about Costner and Sheridan’s upcoming show:
Quote:
“Our goal is to bring premium cinematic storytelling to television. With an icon such as Kevin Costner in front of the camera, and the renowned Taylor Sheridan behind the camera, we are off to a great start. We are thrilled to have such a celebrated actor as Costner to play the lead role in such an important project for Paramount Network.”
If Yellowstone proves to be as successful as Hatfields & McCoys for Costner, the actor could be looking at another Emmy in his future. With such an acclaimed writer in Sheridan behind the wheel, as well, all of the pieces are certainly in place for this to be a winner for the up-and-coming Paramount Network, who are obviously trying to draw major talent before they rebrand.
Still, while Hatfields & McCoy was merely a limited event series, it’s as of yet unclear if Yellowstone will have multiple seasons or serve the same purpose as a limited show. Given Costner’s higher profile, the latter wouldn’t be entirely surprising, but still, the modern era of television has attracted a higher level of talent than in the past, with shows like Breaking Bad and Game of Thrones proving that the small screen can be just as thematically rich as movies. Perhaps Costner and Sheridan can craft something with Yellowstone that matches that level of quality, though only time will tell.
Yellowstone is set to premiere some time in summer 2018 on the Paramount Network.
[Screen Rant]
