Taylor Sheridan’s Genius Writing in ‘Yellowstone’ Proves He Revolutionized Kevin Costner’s Role to Represent a Modern-Day Clint Eastwood

Hold onto your Stetsons, ’cause we’re about to narrate a wild theory that might leave you mind-boggled. It so turns out that Taylor Sheridan—the mastermind behind Yellowstone—might have secretly lassoed Kevin Costner’s character, turning him into a modern-day Clint Eastwood. 

Buckle up for the ride as we explore how Sheridan’s genius writing reinvented the Western hero for a whole new generation to watch!

Did Taylor Sheridan Lasso Kevin Costner into a Modern-day Clint Eastwood?

Remember those vintage Clint Eastwood Westerns? Perhaps Hang ‘em High or The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly? Yes, those dark epics that had us cheering for the narrow-eyed gunslinger with a crooked moral compass. Well, Taylor Sheridan may have modified his hit series Yellowstone into a new-gen Eastwood adaptation. 

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Needless to say, Eastwood revolutionized more than simply cowboying. Expanding the Western genre with his remarkable films like Pale Rider, High Plains Drifter, Unforgiven, and The Outlaw Josey Wales, he’s created an unbeatable legacy. Although the genre isn’t as recognized today as it once was, Sheridan’s Yellowstone gave it new life with its intimate and novel family drama.

Even though Yellowstone is touch-dated now, Sheridan revived it with a gritty family drama set on a vast Montana ranch. In John Dutton’s Stetsons, Kevin Costner plays the patriarch with a firm hold on his land and lots of baggage. Dutton may be imperfect, but he’ll even break the law to protect his family. 

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So, can we say John Dutton is a perfect replica of a Clint Eastwood hero? No, not exactly. However, Sheridan’s modern take on the Western archetype and Costner’s gritty acting creates an intriguing character—that both honors the genre’s past and moves forward. Perhaps, we can consider it a modern twist on the gunslinger, dealing with contemporary threats, family dynamics, and the Wild West’s appeal. 

Every Taylor Sheridan Project, Ranked: From Yellowstone to 1883, based on Streaming Dominance 

In the TV industry, Taylor Sheridan has emerged as a major force, especially when it comes to bringing the Western genre back to life. His most well-known program, Yellowstone, is still his crown jewel and evidence of his strong Texas roots (he was raised in Cranfills Gap). 

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Sheridan is a prolific writer, producing historical dramas like Lawmen: Bass Reeves and 1883, as well as new series like Special Ops: Lioness and the grim Mayor of Kingstown. As Yellowstone prepares for a fifth season, here’s a ranking of Sheridan’s projects according to streaming popularity (minutes viewed):

• Yellowstone: Streaming minutes viewed (season 5): 5.58 Billion Total episodes: 47 | Rotten Tomatoes: 84%
• 1923: Minutes viewed: 4.86 Billion Episodes: 8 | Rotten Tomatoes: 90%
• 1883: Minutes viewed: 3.50 Billion Episodes: 10 | Rotten Tomatoes: 89%
• Tulsa King: Minutes viewed: 3.36 Billion Episodes: 9 | Rotten Tomatoes: 79%
• Special Ops: Lioness: Minutes viewed: 2.72 Billion Episodes: 8 | Rotten Tomatoes: 56%
• Lawmen: Bass Reeves: Minutes viewed: 2.29 Billion Episodes: 8 | Rotten Tomatoes: 81%

You can find Clint Eastwood’s movies on Amazon Prime and Netflix, while Yellowstone is now available to watch on Peacock!