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With the ten-part series Yellowstone premiering tonight on the Paramount Network (formerly SpikeTV), I recently sat down with Kevin Costner and Oscar-nominated screenwriter Taylor Sheridan (Wind River, Hell or High Water and Sicario) to talk about making their first TV series. If you aren’t familiar with the show, the series follows the violent world of the Dutton family, who controls the largest contiguous ranch in the United States. Led by their patriarch John Dutton (Costner), the family defends their property against constant attack by land developers, an Indian reservation along its borders, and America’s first National Park. Yellowstone also stars Wes Bentley, Kelly Reilly, Luke Grimes, Cole Hauser, Kelsey Asbille, Danny Huston, Gil Birmingham, Josh Lucas, Jefferson White, Gretchen Mol, Jill Hennessey, Patrick St. Esprit, Ian Bohen, Heather Hemmons, Dave Annable, and Denim Richards.

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Image via Paramount Network

During the interview, Taylor Sheridan and Kevin Costner talked about how they got involved in the series, what would surprise people about the making of the show, how they approached making the series like they were making a movie, if they had to pitch the network on a five-year plan, why Sheridan likes to tell stories about people not normally portrayed in the movies and on TV, if Costner can leave the character he’s playing on set or if some of it comes home with him, and more.

Check out what they had to say in the player above and below is exactly what they talked about.

Taylor Sheridan and Kevin Costner:

  • How they decided to work together on the project and how they both struggled to make it in Hollywood.
  • How Sheridan likes to tell stories about people not normally portrayed in the movies and on TV.
  • What would surprise people to learn about making Yellowstone.
  • Did Sheridan have to pitch the Paramount Network on a five-year plan for the show?
  • Can Costner leave the character he’s playing on set or does some of it come home with him? Talks about how he learns from the people he’s playing.
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Image via Paramount Network
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Image via Paramount Network
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Image via Paramount Network
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Image via Paramount Network