'Yellowstone' Almost Premiered on HBO But Execs Deemed It 'Too Middle America'; Now a Hit on Paramount

Kevin Costner is leaving "Yellowstone" to pursue another directing venture
Yellowstone was originally in development at HBO but struggled to get off the ground
HBO rejected the show due to feeling it was too "Middle America" and not avant-garde enough
After being rejected by HBO, Yellowstone was eventually picked up by Paramount and became a global smash hit
Sheridan originally pitched it as "The Godfather in Montana" but HBO wanted Robert Redford to star