Yellowstone Creator Recalls Biggest Lesson Learned From Sons of Anarchy Role
Taylor Sheridan, the actor, writer, and producer behind the hit series Yellowstone, has revealed that his experience on Sons of Anarchy has influenced how he intends to handle lead actor Kevin Costner’s exit in his show. Sheridan is known for writing popular movies like Sicario and Hell or High Water, in addition to creating the Yellowstone universe, which has expanded to include spinoffs like 1883, 1923, and Lawmen: Bass Reeves.
Yellowstone, which will end after the upcoming second half of season 5, has been in the news lately due to rumors of a backstage feud between Costner and Sheridan. In a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Sheridan discussed how he plans to handle Costner’s exit without resorting to a “f–k you car crash,” a reference to his own exit from Sons of Anarchy.
Sheridan said he doesn’t “do f–k you car crashes,” and that he doesn’t factor in whether Costner’s exit will inflate or insult his ego. While it’s unclear how John Dutton, Costner’s character, will leave the show, Sheridan’s experience in the industry will ensure that the onscreen events of Yellowstone won’t reflect behind-the-scenes events like Sons of Anarchy.
It’s not uncommon for TV shows to use a “f–k you car crash” to write out a character, as was the case with Patrick Dempsey’s exit from Grey’s Anatomy. However, it’s possible that Dutton could die offscreen, as has been done in the past with shows like Riverdale and Glee.
Alternatively, Dutton could simply exit the series in some other way, such as by being removed geographically, perhaps as part of his new role as Governor of Montana. Whatever the outcome, fans can be assured that Sheridan will handle the situation with the same skill and creativity that has made Yellowstone such a hit.
Taylor Sheridan’s Sons of Anarchy exit has shaped how he intends to deal with his own series Yellowstone. The actor, writer, and producer is known for writing such movies as Sicario and Hell or High Water in addition to creating the Yellowstone universe, which has now expanded to include the spinoffs 1883, 1923, Lawmen: Bass Reevesand more. Yellowstone itself will be ending with the upcoming second half of season 5 due to the exit of lead actor Kevin Costner following rumors of a backstage feud between Costner and Sheridan.
The Hollywood Reporter recently ran a profile on Sheridan ahead of the delayed release of Yellowstone season 5 part 2. When asked if he would kill off Costner’s character John Dutton in a “f–k you car crash,” Sheridan fervently denied this idea, even reflecting on how his time on Sons of Anarchy is informing how he handles Costner’s exit in his show. Read his full quote below:
I was killed in a f—k-you car crash! I don’t do f—k-you car crashes. Whether [Dutton’s fate] inflates [Costner’s] ego or insults is collateral damage that I don’t factor in with regard to storytelling.
How Will John Dutton Leave Yellowstone?
It’s not uncommon for television characters to get a “f–k you car crash.” In fact, Sheridan’s exit from Sons of Anarchy was hardly the first, as the term was most widely circulated following Patrick Dempsey’s exit from the long-running medical drama Grey’s Anatomy when his iconic character, Dr. Derek Shepherd, was killed in a car crash in season 11, though even that exit was not the first time the trope was deployed in TV.
Even if this will not be the fate meted out to John Dutton, this doesn’t mean that the character will survive Yellowstone season 5. It’s possible that he could die offscreen in some other way, something that shows do quite frequently when actors aren’t available to shoot their final seasons. This is also how shows in the past have handled the real-life deaths of their stars, including Riverdale‘s Luke Perry and Glee‘s Cory Monteith.
It is also possible that Dutton will remain alive but exit the series in some other way. The most likely manner would be to remove him geographically, perhaps as part of his new role as Governor of Montana, though if it happens, Sheridan’s experience in the industry will at least ensure that the onscreen events of his ever-growing Yellowstone universe don’t reflect behind-the-scenes events like Sons of Anarchy.
Source: THR
