Netflix's New Western Is Taking On Taylor Sheridan At His Own Game

Published Oct 18, 2026, 4:00 PM EDT Cher Thompson is a Senior Staff Writer at Screen Rant, where she covers everything from explosive reality TV moments to cast interviews about the twists and turns of scripted dramas. With a background in creative writing, marketing, and teaching, Cher knows how to spot both the storytelling genius and the guilty pleasures in pop culture. Her work blends wit with insight, making readers feel like they’re chatting with a friend who just happens to know way too much about TV. Over the past decade, Taylor Sheridan has become one of the defining creative forces behind the rejuvenation of the western genre on TV, but an upcoming Netflix remake of a western classic could outplay him at his own game. If you're a fan of westerns, you're more than likely aware of who Taylor Sheridan is – and if you aren't, you've at least encountered one of his shows. Sheridan, a writer, director, and producer whose action films like Sicario have redefined the genre, dipped his toes into the TV western pool with 2018's Yellowstone and hasn't looked back just yet. As one of the most successful TV shows of the modern era, Yellowstone is a tremendously well-known modern western that follows the Dutton family as they protect their name and their ranch with everything they have. An obvious homage to the western genre on top of a phenomenal show, Yellowstone revitalized the style for a new generation. Sheridan, who's taken the Yellowstone franchise to lengths viewers couldn't have imagined upon its release, has long spoken about his love for westerns, even before he was making them consistently. He's even cited one tremendously famous western as a favorite of his, explaining that Lonesome Dove has long been an inspiration. Lonesome Dove, which is one of the most famous westerns of all time, is a story that Sheridan has resonated with from his point of view, and while there have been TV and film adaptations of the story before, Neflix is taking the western under its wing. With an upcoming adaptation of the classic, Lonesome Dove could dethrone Sheridan as the king of the genre. Lonesome Dove Is The Ultimate Western Drama To Compete With Taylor Sheridan's Shows While it's still in the early stages of production, Netflix has announced that it will be backing a new adaptation of Larry McMurty's Lonesome Dove, which has long been called the ultimate western story. With a straight-to-series order, the adaptation of McMurty's novel will tell the story of Gus McCrae and Woodrow Call, a pair of retired Texas rangers who take a cattle drive from the Rio Grande to Montana where they encounter the dangers of the open frontier. While the story is an adventure tale, Lonesome Dove is also a deeply interpersonal story that puts Gus and Woodrow's relationship at its center. With a sweeping novel to pull from, Netflix's adaptation of Lonesome Dove is already likely to be a massively successful addition to the newly expansive western genre. Modern westerns, like Sheridan's Yellowstone and any of its spinoffs, have been able to capture the magic of the original genre while pushing the boundaries on what a western can look like. With Lonesome Dove being spearheaded by Zoe Kazan and Jeb Stuart, fresh voices to the western genre, it's possible that taking the most iconic story in the canon and combining it with fresh talent could cause a huge shift. Lonesome Dove Being Sheridan-Free Gives It An Advantage ABACA/INSTARimages.com Although Lonesome Dove being one of Sheridan's foundational westerns makes it seem like keeping him involved in the new series would be an obvious part of its growth, the Netflix project being Sheridan-free could give it an edge over his other projects. Sheridan's westerns, political thrillers, and crime dramas all come from a similar perspective, as the prolific creator has his touch on all of his projects. With his admiration of Lonesome Dove well-documented and his presence in the genre sweeping, the decision for Netflix to move forward with the project in the hands of Kazan and Stuart is a gamble, but one that will hopefully pay off. With a set of fresh perspectives creating the new western, it won't feel anything like a Sheridan show, which could give it a phenomenal edge. Lonesome Dove doesn't need to become a part of the Sheridan-verse in the way that other shows have. As a classic in its own right, the project should be able to stand on its own and pave its own path, proving what a western should be at its core. With the novel's lasting legacy having inspired westerns for decades, Sheridan should be able to enjoy Lonesome Dove without having to take part in it. Network Netflix Showrunner Zoe Kazan, Jeb Stuart