The Influence of Taylor Sheridan on 'Lawmen: Bass Reeves' as Described by the Showrunner
Taylor Sheridan's influential role in 'Lawmen: Bass Reeves' allowed showrunner Chad Feehan to fully embrace his creative vision A dynamic collaboration that brought the series to life
Article Summary
Lawmen: Bass Reeves is a standalone series created by Chad Feehan, loosely tied to Taylor Sheridan's Yellowstone franchise.
Sheridan's storytelling prowess is praised by Feehan, who credits his contribution for enhancing both the script and production of the Western series.
The series revolves around the remarkable life of Bass Reeves, the pioneering Black deputy U.S. marshal, and boasts an exceptional ensemble cast that includes David Oyelowo, Donald Sutherland, and Dennis Quaid.
Feehan expressed absolute admiration for Sheridan's expertise as he reviewed the Bass Reeves script. Sheridan, a creative force, has built a television empire over the past few years. His groundbreaking series Yellowstone captivated audiences on both AMC and CBS, leading to the successful spinoffs 1883 and 1923, featuring the talented Harrison Ford and Helen Mirren. Apart from the captivating Dutton family saga set in Montana, Sheridan has also spearheaded projects like Tulsa King, Mayor Kingstown, and Special Ops: Lioness, with the highly anticipated Land Man starring Billy Bob Thornton on the horizon. With prior Western storytelling success in films like Hell or High Water and Wind River, Feehan acknowledges Sheridan's incomparable talent for storytelling, describing it as a divine gift.
"So, during the scripting phase, he possessed the ability to identify a specific moment in a script, whether written by myself or another writer, and suggest, 'If you insert this small but impactful moment right here, it will greatly enhance the story's resonance.' This input was truly invaluable in the scripting process. Moving onto the production phase, as I previously mentioned, he constructed a remarkable machine that brings these shows to life. With this, he was able to recommend, 'You absolutely must hire this exceptional AD,' and we followed his advice, leading to phenomenal results. Alongside this, the talent of his wranglers is simply astounding. The way they handle horses and train actors to ride them is truly incredible."
Taylor Sheridan Let Chad Feehan Realize His Vision for 'Lawmen: Bass Reeves'
Sheridan's impact on Bass Reeves went beyond simply improving the script. Feehan expressed that in post-production, Sheridan's expertise added that extra touch to really enhance the episodes. He had a natural ability to examine and enhance the story. Despite this, Feehan emphasized that the show was still under his control, and Sheridan respected that. Feehan expressed gratitude towards Sheridan for giving him a significant amount of autonomy in shaping the show. He compared it to being given a football to run with, and he appreciated that opportunity.
Bass Reeves follows the captivating story of the first Black deputy U.S. marshal west of the Mississippi, a remarkable lawman who had escaped slavery and brought in over 3,000 criminals during his career in law enforcement. The talented David Oyelowo leads the cast as Reeves, joined by an impressive lineup including Donald Sutherland, Dennis Quaid, Lauren E. Banks, Demi Singleton, Barry Pepper, and Forrest Goodluck. Feehan has mentioned that if the first season is well-received, there are numerous tales to be told about Reeves. Moreover, the plan is to create an anthology series about other legendary enforcers from the past. It is clear that the series has ample room to flourish beyond the world of Yellowstone, with Sheridan taking a less prominent role.
Lawmen: Bass Reeves will debut this Sunday, November 5, exclusively on Paramount+. For a comprehensive insight into the Western series, be sure to consult our complete guide here, and stay tuned for our extensive interview with Feehan.
Release Date November 5, 2023Cast David Oyelowo, Dennis Quaid, Joaquina Kalukango, Justin Hurtt-DunkleyMain Genre WesternGenres Drama, Western, BiographySeasons 1Creator Chad Feehan
Editor's P/S
Taylor Sheridan is a creative genius whose work has captivated audiences around the world. His storytelling prowess is on full display in "Lawmen: Bass Reeves," a standalone series created by Chad Feehan that is loosely tied to Sheridan's Yellowstone franchise. Sheridan's influence on the show is undeniable, and it's clear that Feehan has a deep admiration for his work.
Sheridan's contributions to the script and production of "Lawmen: Bass Reeves" were invaluable. He has a knack for identifying small moments that can greatly enhance the story's resonance, and his recommendations for directors and wranglers were spot-on. In post-production, Sheridan's expertise added an extra touch that really brought the episodes to life. Despite his significant impact on the show, Sheridan respected Feehan's vision and gave him the autonomy to shape the show the way he wanted.
