If you’ve been living under rocks, you might have missed the seismic shift happening in Hollywood right now. It’s a shift fueled by one man—Taylor Sheridan. This guy is becoming Hollywood’s golden ticket, the key to drawing stars away from their traditional turf, whether it’s movie sets or the world of big-budget blockbusters. Just look at Harrison Ford!
The legend himself, a man synonymous with the thrill of high-flying adventures, gracing the small screen for his first major role ever in a TV series. And it’s only for Sheridan’s 1923—a prequel to the wildly successful Yellowstone. Now, why would Ford, the very definition of Hollywood royalty, trade the silver screen for the small screen? It’s not just the story. It’s the man behind it all.
Harrison Ford on Why Taylor Sheridan’s 1923 is a game-changer in Hollywood storytelling
Hollywood has a habit of churning out the same stories over and over again, wrapped in flashy costumes and CGI. And let’s be real: it can feel like we’re stuck in a loop, waiting for something to break through the monotony. And we have Taylor Sheridan, who’s not just rewriting the script but reshaping the entire narrative. If you need proof of how powerful his storytelling is, ask Harrison Ford.
When Ford sat down with Jon Stenvall two years ago, he was all in on why Sheridan’s script spoke to him. Ford said,
Yeah, I mean what you’re looking for is a collaboration, a process between yourself and a filmmaker like Taylor. The stories that he tells are very intriguing to me and the way the elements that he chose meld together into a story are original and to me very interesting.
Sheridan’s unique approach to storytelling, mixing historical elements with raw human emotion, gave Ford the perfect canvas to create a character that felt as substantial as the storyline itself. But it’s not just about Ford. The fact that stars like him, who could easily coast on big-budget blockbusters, are flocking to work with Sheridan speaks volumes.
We’re in an era where superhero flicks dominate the box office and countless sequels recycle the same tired plotlines. It’s a jungle out there, with cookie-cutter scripts and formulas that have long overstayed their welcome. But Sheridan? He’s the antidote. He’s the new breath of fresh air Hollywood has been gasping for. With 1923, he’s proven that there’s still room for stories with substance, stories that get you to sit up and take notice. And it’s not just critics and casual viewers who are taking notice; it’s the lead actors themselves.
Harrison Ford: How Taylor Sheridan crafted the complex character of Jacob Dutton in 1923
When the interviewer (in the same interview) pressed him further on how Taylor Sheridan presented the character of Jacob Dutton, Harrison Ford opened up about the depth Sheridan brought to the role. “A lot of it was in the script,” Ford explained, adding:
Taylor and I talked about it but a lot of it comes from casting. I bring my own experience, my own understanding and I’m sure it characterizes the man as well as my personal story. He’s given me such a complex character and the opportunity to express those elements in dramatic circumstances.
The architecture of his development of a character in this case was very clear to me and I could see how much work he had done for me to develop this character. And I was grateful, very grateful.
Sheridan didn’t just throw Ford a role—he handed him a multi-layered character, full of opportunities to explore and develop, grounded in a rich narrative. The show earned a stellar 90% on Rotten Tomatoes, proof that the audience isn’t just passively consuming—it’s fully invested.
In a sea of sequels, reboots, and caped crusaders, Taylor Sheridan stands out as a beacon of originality. If Ford, who could have easily slipped into yet another big franchise role, is choosing to collaborate with Sheridan, it’s a clear sign that this man is on the rise. He’s not just Hollywood’s next big thing—he’s the shot of adrenaline the industry desperately needed.