The late Robert Redford was slated to head up the cast of Yellowstone at one point before the show got the green light, but the Hollywood legend ended up losing the plum part for a most unexpected reason.

How Was Robert Redford Connected to Yellowstone?

Yellowstone co-creator and writer Taylor Sheridan tells the Hollywood Reporter that he originally wrote Yellowstone as a movie, and it eventually ended up in development as a series for HBO.

Sheridan wanted Kevin Costner for the lead role of John Dutton from the start, but HBO executives “didn’t see it,” he recalls.

“They said, ‘We want Robert Redford,'” he states. “They said, ‘If you can get us Robert Redford, we’ll greenlight the pilot.’

Why Didn’t Robert Redford End up on Yellowstone?

Sheridan went straight into action to make their request into reality.

“I drive to Sundance and spend the day with him and he agrees to play John Dutton,” Sheridan relates.

“I call the senior vice president in charge of production and say, ‘I got him!’ ‘You got who?’ ‘Robert Redford.’ ‘What?!‘ ‘You said if I got Robert Redford, you’d greenlight the show.’”

“And he says — and you can’t make this s–t up — ‘We meant a Robert Redford type.’”

The deal fell apart, and Sheridan was able to get the rights back.

How Did Yellowstone End up on Paramount Network?

He subsequently shopped it around to a number of different outlets, including smaller niche markets that included TBS and TNT.

He finally struck a deal with Paramount Network, with Costner firmly back in place in the role he had envisioned for him all along.

Yellowstone debuted in 2018, and it became the most-watched drama on cable television by its fourth season.

The show ended after Season 5.

Did Robert Redford Die?

Yes. CNN reports that the actor, director and philanthropist died at his home in Utah on Sept. 16, 2025, at the age of 89.