Sam Elliott Says He Turned Down A Role On “Yellowstone”

1883 / Instagram

Sam Elliott is the star of countless movies, an Academy Award nominee, and to put it simply – a legend. But right now, he is one of the stars of the Paramount+ series 1883, where he plays Shea Brennan.

But before he was even considered for a role on the Paramount+ series, he turned down a role on the show that his series is based on – Yellowstone.

During a recent interview on the Official Yellowstone Podcast, hosted by Jefferson White, who plays Jimmy on Yellowstone, Elliott revealed that Taylor Sheridan had approached him for a part on Yellowstone. The Star Is Born actor said that he had heard of Sheridan, but they’d never actually crossed paths.

“I’d certainly seen his work and seen stuff that he’d written. I’ve watched Sons of Anarchy and knew him as an actor. When I first discovered him as a writer was in Sicario and I thought, ‘Wow how can one guy have so many talents going for him?'” he told White.

Yellowstone apparently wasn’t the right fit for him, because he turned the role down.

Elliot said, “I passed on it, but during that time that he made that offer to me, we started talking.” 

That talking led to a starring role on the Yellowstone prequel series 1883. We can’t imagine anyone else playing troubled veteran Shea Brennan. It’s almost as though the part were written just for him.

Speaking about his character, Elliot said, “Shea’s a troubled character. He’s a troubled man.Probably in the beginning because he’s a veteran of the Civil War. He and Thomas both. And James as well. They’re all vets of the Civil War, so they’re troubled in the beginning.”

He continued, “The fact that Shea loses his wife and daughter and burns his house down in the very beginning he’s a complex man and he’s on his own journey. he’s on a journey to the ocean. he wont tell you why but that’s where he’s headed. He’s been to Oregon before, but he’s taking himself going back. and taking his people along the way but he’s on his own journey to Oregon as well.”

See a clip of the podcast below and click here to listen to the entire episode.