Taylor Sheridan has been so busy building a TV empire that people almost forgot he started as a screenwriter for the big screen. We're talking about the guy who gave us Sicario and Hell or High Water. But lately, if you want a Sheridan fix, you usually have to look at Paramount+ or CBS. That’s why everyone is buzzing about his jump back into cinema.
The project is called F.A.S.T. and it's been sitting in a drawer for a long time. Honestly, it's one of those "development hell" stories that finally got a green light because Sheridan is now the biggest name in Western-adjacent storytelling. It isn't just a rumor anymore; production has been moving fast and the cast is finally locked in.
F.A.S.T. is the Taylor Sheridan New Movie You Need to Watch
This isn't a Yellowstone spin-off. It’s not about the Duttons. F.A.S.T. is an action thriller that feels much closer to Sheridan’s gritty, "Frontier Trilogy" roots. The story follows a former special forces commando who has hit rock bottom after returning home. He's eventually recruited by the DEA to lead a black ops strike team.
Their target? CIA-protected drug dealers operating right in his own backyard.
It’s that classic Sheridan setup. You have the messy intersection of law enforcement, government corruption, and a protagonist who is probably too tired for this but does it anyway. While Sheridan wrote the script, he isn't directing this one. That job went to Ben Richardson, who has been the cinematographer for basically everything Sheridan has touched, including 1883 and Wind River.
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The Casting Swap: Why No Chris Pratt?
For years, the word on the street was that Chris Pratt was going to lead this movie. That was back in 2018. Things changed. Warner Bros. sat on the script, the pandemic happened, and Pratt’s schedule became a nightmare.
Instead, Sheridan went with one of his new favorites: Brandon Sklenar.
If you watched 1923, you know him as Spencer Dutton—the guy who spent half the season fighting lions in Africa. Sklenar has that "quiet intensity" that Sheridan loves. He's joined by a pretty heavy-hitting ensemble:
- LaKeith Stanfield (always brings a weird, brilliant energy)
- Jason Clarke (a Sheridan veteran from the Wind River sequel)
- Juliana Canfield - Sam Claflin
Jason Clarke actually let it slip recently that they’ve been filming "crazy stuff" over in Spain. So while the setting is American, the production is going global to get those high-octane sequences right.
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When Is It Actually Coming Out?
Don’t clear your calendar for next week. F.A.S.T. is currently slated for a theatrical release on April 23, 2027.
Yeah, it’s a wait.
The reason it feels so "current" is because the production updates have been flying out of the trades throughout late 2025 and early 2026. Warner Bros. is positioning this as a major theatrical event, which is a big deal since most of Sheridan’s recent work has stayed on small screens.
What About Empire of the Summer Moon?
You might have heard about another project called Empire of the Summer Moon. This is the one based on the Pulitzer-finalist book about the Comanche and Quanah Parker.
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Sheridan won a massive bidding war for this. However, it’s still in the "pre-production" phase. There’s a lot of debate right now about whether this will be a movie or a limited series like 1883. Given the 40-year timeline of the book, a two-hour movie might not cut it. But for now, F.A.S.T. is the only confirmed feature-length film on the immediate horizon with a finished script and a filming schedule.
The Big Career Shift
There’s a reason Sheridan is pushing back into movies. In late 2025, he signed a massive five-year deal with NBCUniversal. His Paramount deal for movies is ending in March 2026, though he’ll keep making TV for them until 2028.
This means we’re about to see a "theatrical renaissance" for him. He's moving away from the "content machine" of streaming for a minute to focus on high-budget, standalone cinema. If you’ve missed the tight, 100-minute tension of Sicario, this is good news.
Actionable Insights for Fans:
- Track the Release: Keep an eye on Warner Bros. teasers starting in late 2026. They are likely to drop the first trailer during a major sporting event.
- Watch the Director: If you want to know what the "vibe" of the movie will be, look at Ben Richardson’s work on 1883. Expect wide, sweeping shots and very natural, harsh lighting.
- Read the Source Material: While F.A.S.T. is an original script, reading Empire of the Summer Moon by S.C. Gwynne is the best way to prepare for Sheridan's other massive upcoming project.
- Check the Spinoffs: If 2027 is too far away, Marshals (starring Luke Grimes) premieres on CBS on March 1, 2026, which should bridge the gap.