AlthoughTaylor Sheridanbegan his career as an actor, audiences today know him best for his screenwriting, particularly his modern take on the Western, such as the hit dramaYellowstone. TheYellowstoneuniverse continues to expand—it’s already led to two spinoffs, with more in the works, including the forthcomingThe Madison. In addition to his TV work,Sheridan is also known for his film career, which includes his “Modern America Frontier” trilogy ofSicario,Hell or High WaterandWind River.
Sheridan hasn’t just found success withYellowstone, however. His other dramas, such asMayor of Kingstown,have also been praised by fans and critics alike. Similar themes can be found throughout his work, most notably that of family dynasties, but no matter the story, Sheridan has proven his ability to tell compelling stories centered around a particular place.
9’The Last Cowboy'
2019-present
In competition docuseriesThe Last Cowboy, a number of contestants train horses in reining by guiding them through a series of obstacles, all leading up to the Run for a Million. The arena-based competition, created by Sheridan in 2019, sees the riders competing to win $1 million. The show has been on the air for four seasons. It first aired on Paramount, then moved to CMT starting with Season 2.
While that meansThe Last Cowboyis not as heavy on the drama and twists like his scripted series.
Sheridan is practically regarded as a modern-day cowboy thanks to his work in neo-Westerns, so it’s no surprise that he took elements of the genre to the world of reality TV. While that meansThe Last Cowboyis not as heavy on the drama and twists like his scripted series, it still provides an interesting inside look at the world of reining competitions and the work it takes to successfully train a horse and win the prize.
8’Lawmen: Bass Reeves'
Set just after the Civil War,Lawmen: Bass Reevestells the story of one of the first Black deputy U.S. marshals west of the Mississippi River, Bass Reeves (David Oyelowo), who began life enslaved. The series streams on Paramount+ andis based on a true story. One season has aired so far, but subsequent seasons may take an anthology approach and focus on other prominent figures of the west.
Oyelowo is fantasticas he introduces modern audiences to Reevesand helps convey what he accomplished in his storied career—althoughLawmendoesn’t quite live up to its immense potential. With its Western setting and plot, and it’s no wonder Sheridan is involved, the series is distinctly separate from theYellowstoneuniverse, even though it fits right in. The themes will also be familiar to Sheridan fans, particularly the theme of justice.
Lawmen: Bass Reeves
7’Special Ops: Lioness'
2023 - Present
CIA operative Joe (Zoe Saldaña) balances her personal and professional lives in spy thrillerSpecial Ops: Lionessin her work as leader of the Lioness program in the war on terror.Nicole Kidmanalso stars as Joe’s boss, Kaitlyn Meade, and also featuresMorgan Freeman. The series is based on an actual military program, with the first two seasons now available on Paramount+.
Lionesswon fans over quickly—the show was among Paramount+’s most watched shows when it premiered. It’s an engaging, fast-paced series, and similar to Sheridan’s other work, the show features plenty of high-stakes twists. For the most part, however,it stands out as a very different show, although rumors suggest Season 2 might be similar to his filmSicario. But with a female-centered story, it still presents something different from familiar espionage plots.
6’Tulsa King'
2022-present
After 25 years in prison, New York mafia boss Dwight “The General” Manfredi (Sylvester Stallone) is released and sent to Tulsa, where he begins to build a new criminal empire inTulsa King. The seriesstreams on Paramount+. One season has been released so far, andSeason 2 will premiere in Septemberand end in November. It will follow The General as he’s threatened by the mob in Kansas City.
Tulsa Kinghas been a fan favorite on Paramount+ and has continued Sheridan’s trend of creating beloved dramas, andit also continues his trend of interesting characters and moral ambiguity. Dwight’s great all on his own, and the show’s villains only make things better—Season 2’s villains look to be even more formidable. The show also features the same grit which can be found in much of Sheridan’s other work.
Tulsa King
5’Mayor of Kingstown'
2021-present
Crime dramaMayor of KingstownstarsJeremy Renneras the fixer and head of the McLusky family—who run Kingstown’s prison system—who tries to keep the peace in town. Season 3 saw Kingstown overrun with the Russian mob. Three seasons have aired so far, and the series has yet to be renewed for a fourth, although it seems likely. Sheridan co-created the series withHugh Dillon, and it streams on Paramount+.
Mayor of Kingstown’s focus on the prison system in particularallows it to take a close look at issues such as systemic racism, corruption and more, including the problems inherent with the prison system functioning as a business. The show features intense storylines and interesting characters, or,as Renner himself puts it, “everyman characters in extraordinary circumstances.” Like some of Sheridan’s other projects—most notablyYellowstone—the series also deals with family dynamics, especially when business is involved.
Mayor of Kingstown
1923follows the Dutton family—here, Jacob (Harrison Ford) and Cara (Helen Mirren)—into the 20th century with all the challenges the era brings, from the Depression to Prohibition and more, all while the ranch faces problems of drought, cattle theft and more. Like1883, the series is narrated by Elsa Dutton (Isabel May). The show streams on Paramount+, and Season 2 will be its last with an expected air date of 2025.
While not as interesting as1883orYellowstone,1923tells an entertaining story in its own right. By being set in a different era,the series is open to numerous storytelling possibilities, which it takes full advantage of while also moving ever closer tothe current generation of the Dutton family. Ford and Mirren deliver the exact stellar performances audiences have come to expect of them, and they’re a delight to watch as they set the stage for the Dutton family to come.
2024 –2025
If it’s one state that Taylor Sheridan is very familiar with it’s Texas, especially West Texas; and what’s not to like about the rugged, beautiful land? This land serves as the backdrop for Paramount+’s Landman, which is based on the Boomtown podcast produced by the state magazine, Texas Monthly. Landman follows Tommy Norris (Billy Bob Thornton), a on owl “Landman” for a large oil company not from round’ those parts who come to the oilfields of West Texas to investigate a deadly accident.
Though running for only one season, Landman manages to showcase just how far oil companies are willing to go to cover-up accidents at the expense of the public. Not only is the story gripping, but the cast, which includes Demi Moore in a standout role as Cami Miller, is what truly makes Landman a must-watch, and one of Sheridan’s best.
As the first spinoff ofYellowstone, prequel miniseries1883followed an earlier generation of the Dutton family as they left behind poverty in Texas in the years after the Civil War and joined a wagon chain heading for Oregon. The familyultimately settled in Montanaand began what would become John Dutton’s ranch inYellowstone. James and Margaret Dutton were played by real-life country music coupleTim McGrawandFaith Hill.
1883was one of the strongest of Sheridan’s shows, especially among the others in theYellowstoneuniverse. Its more focused approach to storytelling made it easier to care about the characters and what they accomplished, on top of being a fascinating look at the beginnings of the Dutton family and the way we know them today. The series alsofeaturedTom Hanksin a memorable cameoduring a flashback sequence.
Watch on Paramount+
1’Yellowstone'
2018 - 2024
Neo-Western dramaYellowstonestarsKevin Costneras John Dutton,the patriarch of the Dutton family, who controls the largest ranch in the United States and is often in conflict with everyone from land developers to neighboring Native American tribes because of it. The show premiered in 2018 on Paramount, and ended with a bang in Novermber of 2024.
Yellowstonehas been a huge success for Sheridan. It’s enjoyed high ratings—the Season 5 premiere was the most-watched show in all of 2022. The compelling series has kept viewers hooked with plenty of twists and turns, not to mention plenty of drama from the Dutton family, and while the family’s exploits can sometimes get a little over-the-top, they’re still entertaining to watch.Yellowstoneis also notable for its gorgeous scenery, practically a character in itself.
Yellowstone
Keep Reading:10 Movies to Watch if You Love ‘Yellowstone’
