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HBO Wanted Redford, Got 'Redford Type' Instead
14 Mar
Summary
- HBO initially wanted Robert Redford for Yellowstone's lead.
- Sheridan secured Redford, but HBO wanted a 'Redford type'.
- Redford passed away in September 2025 at age 89.
In a surprising revelation, HBO executives initially insisted on Robert Redford for the lead role of John Dutton in what would become the hit series Yellowstone. Creator Taylor Sheridan recalled pitching the show as 'The Godfather in Montana' to HBO.
Sheridan successfully secured Redford's commitment after a visit to Sundance. However, HBO executives then stated they were seeking a 'Redford type,' not Redford himself. This pivot led to the show eventually finding its home on Paramount Network, with Kevin Costner starring as John Dutton.
This anecdote emerged as a tribute to Redford was featured at the premiere of The Madison, shortly after his passing in September 2025 at the age of 89. Sheridan's career has since flourished with numerous successful projects, including prequels 1883 and 1923, and other series like Mayor of Kingstown and Tulsa King.
Sheridan recently signed a significant five-year overall deal with NBCUniversal, set to begin in January 2029, after his current Paramount deal concludes. This move signals his intention to create new intellectual property for NBCUniversal, while Paramount retains rights to existing Yellowstone franchises.
