David Oyelowo is set to star in a pilot for the 1883 spinoff series Bass Reeves directed by Taylor Sheridan

[{"selector":"#anim-4e9852c9-d083-44ad-a287-93f71ade68d6 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(35.22338858221109%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d8c225b9-79c1-47af-924a-edf2bd4af767","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

With Taylor Sheridan directing the Paramount+ pilot, 1883: The Bass Reeves Story gets the Yellowstone touch

[{"selector":"#anim-3bd265bd-6c0b-4283-8a3c-9d0be6843d7b [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(61.014591329773516%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-cf522c3e-a5a9-4758-9104-e5525a2feb4b","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

On Thursday that Yellowstone creator and showrunner Sheridan would direct the pilot of the six-part limited series starring David Oyelowo as the legendary Wild West cowboy

[{"selector":"#anim-2b2938c3-7e28-4876-9240-e14961fc6aea [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(34.19102812987822%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-8a7149d1-009f-48d9-b902-1b62b00ed003","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

The decision was made after Sheridan received the script and was impressed with the direction.

[{"selector":"#anim-12ff471f-a766-44dc-8517-dd1b7b5a7992 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(34.21484365421629%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-8254cd4a-5472-4917-aba7-d2c21ae86808","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

He later contacted Oyelowo, who encouraged him to steer the ship

[{"selector":"#anim-416707f3-8b5d-4d4c-8648-354aa4bfed03 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(35.234374910402764%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f1604c8e-52b1-442d-912c-1db610faff21","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

"I think [Taylor] is one of the best directors on the planet," Oyelowo told Deadline of the two episodes Sheridan will direct

[{"selector":"#anim-737926a9-8750-4c06-bc0c-fbd8892ad368 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(32.8385415625316%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c7c79aa5-686c-40e2-8e78-302d81d5910f","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

We need to fill the show with a lot of Black people so that going forward we do not run out of the top-flight Black directors

[{"selector":"#anim-b323777b-2021-4ffa-803e-e7c24b32e39b [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(35.234374910402764%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e3b255e8-834c-485b-8d50-3f9220ceb33d","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

The Bass Reeves Story would cross over into other Yellowstone shows, Oyelowo stated that it was more of a "stand-alone story" regarding 1883

[{"selector":"#anim-fd5109dc-a0cc-4d8f-a1ca-d24280e67e1f [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(28.90624987200394%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-76af4978-94fb-421d-a550-a97e38045997","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

Selma star Paul Dano said that there was "a huge physical component" to preparing for the role of Bass Reeves

[{"selector":"#anim-eae5a404-6eac-4039-ba7c-789c70f601f1 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(34.179687404002955%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-5142fcc0-7260-4f81-8183-f8468efedd92","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]