After a two-year break, Yellow stone Season 5 is back to finish the job. After Kevin Costner’s surprising exitfans were wondering what would become of their beloved Western saga. Those rumors of behind-the-scenes drama spread, but there should never have been any real concerns about whether the series would end as well as it began. For what? Because Taylor Sheridan is at the helm.

Starting with Yellow stone In 2018, Sheridan became a force within the television industry. The series, which he co-created with John Linson, became a juggernaut, launching two prequel series (1883, 1923) with multiple spinoffs on the horizon (including The Madison with Michelle Pfeiffer). If Sheridan stopped there, his legacy would be complete. Unsatisfied if he doesn’t create, Sheridan enjoys a successful partnership with Paramount+, which has given his additional series:Mayor of Kingstown (co-created with Hugh Dillon), King of Tulsa, Lioness and the next Landman (premieres November 16) – A Good Home. Sheridan’s creative prowess and powerful personas have attracted stars like Jeremy Renner, Sylvester Stallone, Zoe Saldaña, Nicole Kidman, Billy Bob Thornton, Jon Hamm and Demi Moore, who are eager to work with him.

So what’s it like working with one of the most prominent television creators of the 21st century? We spoke with some actors from Yellow stone– the show that started it all – to get their perspective on participating in Sheridan’s legacy. Gil Birminghamwho plays Broken Rock leader Thomas Rainwater, has been close to Sheridan and his family since 2016, when he starred in Hell or high water, for which Sheridan wrote the screenplay. “I am amazed by the imagination and intelligence with which he writes,” Birmingham said. While marveling at Sheridan’s “prolific nature,” Birmingham notes that he remained “a hometown guy” through it all. The actor felt that Sheridan’s wild success and “all these spinoffs” were made possible by Sheridan’s whole-hearted “belief in himself.” “If you have that, there’s no limit to what you can do,” Birmingham added.

No doubt a muse of Sheridan, Kelly Reilly considers the role of Beth Dutton “one of the most electrifying, satisfying and challenging roles I have ever played.” Hailing his creative vision as “singular” and “uncompromising,” Reilly believes that Sheridan “reinvigorated modern Western storytelling” with the landmark series. While Reilly notes that Sheridan “can fight,” what she likes most is when Sheridan “writes poetry for us.” “It’s when he writes from his soul and his heart that these characters really resonate,” Reilly said.

As a writer, Sheridan balances tone brilliantly to reflect the depth of his characters. “You can be in a moment full of fury and fire and destruction and darkness, and then all of a sudden you’re talking about God,” Reilly continues. “I love it.” Sheridan’s delicate touches are clear, even in the series’ most explosive moments. Sheridan’s ability to harness the character’s “gentleness in this difficult world” is “his gift”, according to Reilly.

Cole Hauserwho plays Yellowstone ranch foreman Rip Wheeler, praised Sheridan’s ability to “educate, entertain and enlighten” his audience. He observed that Sheridan’s series highlighted Montana and surrounding politics in a way that mainstream media has never seen before, saying, “He did a good job explaining a lot of the history of this region. » Throughout the series, Sheridan explored the struggles in the state through the lens of many people. Everyone’s point of view – from breeders to the indigenous community to developers – was represented. “He gave all these different characters a chance to speak,” Hauser said.

A true cowboy, Sheridan has long been in love with the American West, with its harsh realities, its ideals and its faults. The authenticity he brings to Yellow stone is the key to its success. Hauser believes Sheridan should be “proud of what we have accomplished over the last seven years.” As the flagship series finishes its run, who knows where Sheridan will take the Duttons’ story next. Hopefully he can continue the family saga in one form or another amid his other projects.