Yellowstonecreator Taylor Sheridan reflects on working with Sam Elliott on1883and their reunion filmingLandman.1883was released in 2021 as the chronologically earliest prequel to theYellowstonefranchise. Starring Tim McGraw, Faith Hill, Isabel May, and Elliott, the miniseries followed pioneers as they made their way west. Elliott’s Shea Brennan helped lead the treacherous expedition with the goal of seeing the Pacific Ocean. Elliott will reunite with Sheridan inLandmanseason 2, where he has been cast as a series regular.
In an interview withGoldDerby,Sheridan describes the brutal filming conditions for Elliott during1883and working onLandman. He details working in “108-degree heat dressed in wool” and only having three interior sets during filming. He notes that Elliott embraced it and that it"[felt] like he was doing something special.“Sheridan also praises Elliott’s distinct way of delivering dialogue and is glad to be working together again onLandman, which is currently filming.
Sam Elliott has this effortless ability to stress the perfect syllable, to impact the meaning of a sentence and completely fill it with emotion, effortlessly. I was just with him on set two hours ago. It’s so great to be back with him. I’ve been blessed to work with some phenomenal actors, and I’ve had some wonderful experiences. But you know I dragged Sam through a very similar hell that we just went through in1883. There were only three interior sets for the entire shoot.
We were in 108-degree heat dressed in wool and then we were in minus-6 in the same wool. It was a state of misery. For Sam to take that abuse and embrace it, and really feel like he was doing something special. … We’ve all done this enough that you can wonder, is there a way they’re gonna put this thing together and it works, but every once in a while you’re on one, and you know, unless the director is colossally f–king up, this thing is gonna work.
What This Means For Sheridan Shows
There Is A Grand Visual Scope
1883showcased the harsh conditions it took to travel west, often in excruciating detail. Along with showing the never-ending difficulties of the pioneers, the series made an effort to display incredible vistas throughout the journey. Instead of relying on visual effects, the crew filmed on real locations. Everyone on set was subject to the elements during the shoot, but it paid off in the finished product. The varying weather conditions likely helped the performances as the real-life people involved were also struggling at certain points.
With his signature mustache and particular enunciation, he fits perfectly in that world.
Elliott is the quintessential Western actor. AlthoughSam Elliott’s filmographyis full of roles outside of the genre, it is what he is best known for. With his signature mustache and particular enunciation, he fits perfectly in that world. Having Elliott appear in the most classic style of Western in theYellowstoneuniverse was a perfect casting choice.1883is a far more serious show than some of the soap opera elements ofYellowstone, and Elliott helped add to that gravitas.
Our Take On Elliott & Sheridan Teaming Up
Elliott Will Make A Great Addition To Landman
Sheridan is one of the most prolific creators working in TV today. He continues to make hit shows, withLandmanbeing the most recent example. Elliott is joining the already impressiveLandmancastthat will see him acting with other on-screen legends like Billy Bob Thornton and Demi Moore. Given Elliott’s previous experience working with Sheridan on1883, he should be a great addition to another neo-Western withLandman, despite the filming conditions they worked under before.
1883
Cast
1883 is a Western drama series set at the beginning of Taylor Sheridan’s Yellowstone franchise and explores the origins of the Duttons and how Yellowstone came to be. The show chronicles a generation of the Dutton family as they embark on a difficult journey to the western frontier to establish a new legacy.
Landman
Set in West Texas, this series explores the world of oil rigs and the fortunes they create. It portrays a modern upstairs/downstairs narrative of roughnecks and billionaires, highlighting the profound impact on the climate, economy, and geopolitics in these boomtowns.
