Taylor Sheridan discusses Yellowstone cast mutiny during season 3, revealing that he was forced to intervene when a writer’s room experiment failed and the main actors refused to work over poor scripts. During a recent conversation with Peter Berg, Sheridan recounted being called back to save the show’s third season while still directing another film in New Mexico.
Sheridan Faces Challenges During Production
Yellowstone continues to draw public interest even months after its conclusion, and new behind-the-scenes stories are still emerging. Taylor Sheridan, the show’s creator and writer, recently opened up to fellow producer Peter Berg about a pivotal moment when the cast staged a mutiny over the quality of the scripts. Sheridan explained that the trouble began after Yellowstone was greenlit for production with just four months to prepare, following the end of Wind River.
He described how studio executives wanted him to work with a writer’s room, but the experience quickly soured.
What ultimately happened after Wind River, Yellowstone got bought out of turnaround, and they wanted to go into production in four months, and they were trying to introduce me to [writers’] rooms,
Sheridan said, reflecting on the chaotic schedule that followed.
Sheridan admitted his frustration with the hiring process, saying,
I’m reading samples, and I just think everyone’s a terrible writer,
and shared the pressure he faced:
I found myself in a situation where I was writing scripts on the weekend to shoot the next week.
Writers’ Room Fails, Cast Stages Mutiny
Rather than bringing relief, assembling a writing team for season 3 created new problems. Sheridan noted that there was not enough time for collaborative script work on season 2, so he wrote all the episodes himself. When a writers’ room was finally put together for season 3, things quickly deteriorated.
Recounting the crisis, Sheridan explained how serious the situation became:
The scripts were so bad that they called me back while I was directing this movie in New Mexico with Angie [Jolie],
he revealed, referring to working with star Angie Jolie during his film project.
The cast’s dissatisfaction escalated to the point of refusing to film the provided material. Sheridan recalled,
They said, ‘You’ve got to help us out. The actors won’t go to work. They’re mutinying.’ And so I wrote an episode of Yellowstone every Saturday.
The source of tension was clear: the actors—including key cast members—refused to proceed with scripts they believed were below the show’s standards, prompting a full-fledged “mutiny” and a desperate call for Sheridan’s help.
Sheridan’s Relentless Effort Keeps Production Alive
Despite juggling another directorial project in New Mexico, Sheridan stepped in and single-handedly wrote new episodes each weekend, keeping production on schedule and placating the frustrated cast. The experience exposed the immense pressure created by tight deadlines, a disengaged writing team, and a cast committed to maintaining the show’s reputation.
This account highlights the ongoing challenges faced by showrunners like Sheridan, reflecting his intense commitment and the sometimes volatile nature of television production. The creative dynamics involving Sheridan, the actors, Peter Berg, and the wider team underscore how quickly a production can be thrown into disarray when expectations are not met.
The events surrounding Yellowstone’s third season demonstrate the high stakes behind successful television dramas. The mutiny led by the cast compelled the series creator himself to step in, ultimately steering the show away from crisis and reinforcing his reputation as an indispensable creative force behind Yellowstone.
