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After initially joining Taylor Sheridan’s Western series with prequel1923, Helen Mirren is set to reprise her role as Cara Dutton in the upcoming second and final season of the show.
While her performance has earned widespread acclaim, the circumstances surrounding her casting raise concerns about Sheridan’s unconventional approach, especially in light of the rift between him and Kevin Costner.
Costner has claimed that despite being signed on to return forYellowstoneSeason 5B, he left the show because the script never materialized on time. And Mirren revealing that she also signed on to the show without the availability of a script, casts a shadow on Sheridan’s unconventional methods.
Helen Mirren revealed she signed Taylor Sheridan’s1923without a script
While reflecting on how she landed the role of Cara Dutton in theYellowstoneprequel series,1923,Helen MirrenhighlightedTaylor Sheridan’sunconventional approach to production. In a previous interview withDeadline, the Oscar-winning actress revealed how she was cast in the show without the availability of a script.
She shared,
I think the original approach came through my agent. And as one normally does, you say “Oh that’s interesting. I would love to read a script.” And he said, “Oh no no no there is no script.”
Mirren admitted being surprised by the approach, as she said,“That’s unheard of! How can I agree to something if I haven’t read a script?”However, she was then told,“Sheridan likes to write for the people he knows who are playing the roles.”
The actress then decided to personally meet theYellowstoneshowrunner.“I went to meet with him in Texas and had a wonderful time,”she said before adding,“I just really enjoyed his company.”
“I’m sick of writing letters”: Even Helen Mirren Can No Longer Stand Taylor Sheridan’s ‘Writing’ in Yellowstone Spin-Off ‘1923’ After Accepting the Role Without Reading a Script
After meeting Sheridan, Mirrentook a bold step and jumped into the unknown,trusting Sheridan’s vision. And she expressed fulfillment with her decision, calling it,“one of the really great experiences”of her life.
So I thought, “Yeah okay, and I’ll jump in the deep end and have a go.” And I’m so thrilled that I did because I think it’s going to be one of the really great experiences of my life.
However, while Mirren has thoroughly enjoyed her time on the show, Sheridan’s approach to storytelling also seems to be the underlying issue in Kevin Costner’s exit from the show, who later claimed that he left the show due to the lack of availability of a script on time.
Kevin Costner reflected onYellowstonescheduling conflicts and his exit
Kevin Costner’scharacter John Dutton met an unexpected end in the series finale following his exit from the show, which was attributed to scheduling conflicts and later sparked a widely discussedfeud between the actor and the show’s creator, Taylor Sheridan.
Discussing the reasons behind the scheduling conflicts, Costner later revealed,“There were no scripts.”The actor further explained in an interview withDeadline,
I left my movie to be on time for them for 5B. I left exactly when they wanted, and it made it hard on me. It turns out they didn’t have the scripts for 5B. They needed four more days just to complete the first eight episodes.
He also suggested that there have been ongoing issues with scheduling and deadlines since the very first season of the show. He said,“I’m trying to help you. You haven’t been able to meet the deadline either on the first season completely, the B thing, or the sixth season.”
“That’s my kind of Western”: Helen Mirren Has Always Hated Western Movies But 1 Quentin Tarantino Movie Changed Her Outlook on the Genre
Despite these challenges, Costner emphasized that he always fulfilled his contractual obligations, going above and beyond to help with production, especially due to hiscommitments to his filmHorizon: An American Saga.
I worked the nine-day stretch just to try to help them in July, when I was starting [Horizon] August 1. I worked a Saturday and Sunday for them, and they still needed four more days. I gave it to them, when I thought we were going to do this so-called B, but there was no B thing. I was just going to give ‘em those extra four days.
However, Costner noted that all these efforts were undermined by the lack of scripts, which disrupted the entire production, leading to delays and scheduling conflicts. Costner’s claims highlight the risks and potential downside of Sheridan’s unconventional approach, particularly the challenge it poses for actors working within such an unpredictable framework.
Yellowstoneand1923are available to watch on Paramount+.
Laxmi Rajput
Senior Writer
Articles Published :3448
Laxmi Rajput is a Senior Writer at FandomWire, with over 3,300 articles published covering film, TV, and pop culture. With a degree in Broadcast Journalism and over three years of experience in content writing, she pivoted to entertainment journalism because let’s be honest, superheroes, sitcoms, and Netflix binges are way more fun. Laxmi frequently covers Marvel, Harry Potter, Star Wars, and popular TV shows, offering both fan-first enthusiasm and thoughtful analysis. Her work often dives into Marvel theories, revisits the genius of The Big Bang Theory, or unpacks the Netflix phenomenon of Stranger Things.
