In the high-stakes world of Hollywood, few stories capture the sheer determination and creative genius quite like Taylor Sheridan’s tumultuous journey during the production of Yellowstone Season 3 and the Angelina Jolie-led film Those Who Wish Me Dead. Known for his ironclad will and unmatched creativity, Sheridan’s dual role as a screenwriter and director placed him in an extraordinary situation that tested every fiber of his being.
From Hollywood Outcast to Visionary
Taylor Sheridan’s entry into Hollywood is the stuff of legends. Starting with a stark departure from Sons of Anarchy in 2014, Sheridan’s meteoric rise began with his screenwriting debut in Sicario (2015), followed by critically acclaimed projects like Hell or High Water (2016) and Wind River (2017). By 2018, Sheridan had launched Yellowstone, a show that would soon become a cultural phenomenon.
In 2019, a pivotal moment came when Warner Bros. entrusted Sheridan with Michael Koryta’s novel adaptation, Those Who Wish Me Dead. This project not only featured Hollywood royalty, Angelina Jolie, but also marked a significant expansion for HBO Max. With the film slated for a simultaneous streaming and theatrical release in May 2021, Sheridan’s schedule was set to become a filmmaker’s nightmare.
The Intense Double Duty
The making of Yellowstone Season 3 collided head-on with the filming schedule of Those Who Wish Me Dead. Sheridan described this phase of his career as one of the most grueling periods, having to balance directing a high-profile movie and scripting a television series simultaneously. In an interview on the Joe Rogan Experience, Sheridan shared the brutal reality of his schedule:
“I was directing a movie with Angelina Jolie in New Mexico. They had a start date that, by God, they were gonna start… didn’t matter they didn’t have scripts, they were gonna start, and we would do night shoots, Friday night, finish about 7 in the morning, and I’d come home, and sleep till 2, wake up, have coffee, write the scripts [for Yellowstone S03] on Saturday till 1 or 2 in the morning, wake up Sunday, do it again, finish the script, send it off – 10 episodes, I did it 10 weeks in a row. F–king killed me.”
Triumph with Yellowstone
Despite the exhausting schedule and the challenges, Sheridan’s efforts in Those Who Wish Me Dead culminated in a film that, while not a box-office success, showcased his commitment to his craft. The film opened to mixed reviews, with some praising its ambitious storytelling while others critiqued it for lacking a cohesive center.
The real triumph for Sheridan came a month after the release of Those Who Wish Me Dead, with the premiere of Yellowstone Season 3 in June. The season was heralded as the best of the series, a testament to Sheridan’s relentless work ethic and creative vision. The high-stress conditions under which the episodes were produced did not hinder their quality; rather, they seemed to enhance the dramatic tension and depth of the series, making it a landmark in television history.
Taylor Sheridan’s journey through the simultaneous production of a major film and a hit TV series illustrates the extraordinary capabilities of one of Hollywood’s most formidable talents. His story is not just one of celebrity and success but a powerful narrative about the sacrifices and hard decisions that shape the entertainment we cherish.