“I Love Kevin Costner”: Why 1883’s Veteran Star Turned Down Taylor Sheridan’s Offer and Didn’t Like Yellowstone
Let’s unpack Sam Elliott’s take on Yellowstone, why he turned down Taylor Sheridan’s offer, and how his loyalty to authentic storytelling shapes every choice he makes.
Ever been handed a golden opportunity and walked away without blinking? That’s exactly what Sam Elliott did when Taylor Sheridan invited him into the Yellowstone universe. The veteran actor, known for his role as the grizzled Shea Brennan in 1883, politely declined — not out of ego, but out of pure creative principle.
Why Sam Elliott Said “No” to Yellowstone
Back in 2022, Elliott made headlines for his blunt take on Yellowstone. You’d think starring in 1883, the critically acclaimed prequel, would have made him a natural fit for the flagship series. But Elliott made it clear — he’s not a fan.
“I’m not a Yellowstone fan. I don’t watch Yellowstone,” he said.
That’s not to say he doesn’t admire those involved. He added:
“I love [Kevin] Costner. There’s a lot of good people on the cast — a few of them I’ve worked with before. Nothing against any of them — but it’s just too much like f***ing Dallas or something for me.”
It’s classic Sam Elliott — complimenting the people while drawing a hard line on the project itself. To him, Yellowstone is all gloss and melodrama. Big hair, big drama, big betrayals. Dallas in cowboy boots.
The Sheridan Offer That Elliott Rejected
Here’s the kicker: Taylor Sheridan did offer Elliott a role in Yellowstone. And Elliott, in true cowboy fashion, declined with firm but respectful resolve.
Why?
“Good work for me has always been born on the page first,” Elliott explained. “So it’s always about the script.”
This wasn’t a power move. It was a matter of creative alignment. Elliott felt Yellowstone lacked the grit and grounded realism that drew him to 1883 — a series he saw as raw, authentic, and emotionally honest.
“Tainted by Yellowstone”: The Harshest Critique
Perhaps Elliott’s strongest statement came when he spoke about the shadow Yellowstone cast over 1883:
“Yellowstone is all over 1883. We’re tainted by Yellowstone, which on some level I can’t stand.”
That word — tainted — carries weight. Elliott sees 1883 as a self-contained saga, not a spin-off. To him, the prequel deserves its own legacy, separate from the glossy drama of the Dutton family’s modern-day soap opera.
Where Yellowstone is boardroom brawls and land wars, 1883 is hardship, survival, and dust-covered dreams. One is about wealth and power; the other, about pain and perseverance. And Sam Elliott knows which story he’d rather tell.
A Matter of Taste, Not Ego
At the end of the day, Elliott’s rejection wasn’t personal. He simply knows what kind of stories speak to him — and which ones don’t. He respects his craft too much to say yes to something that doesn’t ring true. And that’s what makes him, well… Sam Elliott.
