Paramount Did Not Make an Offer to Retain Taylor Sheridan as Creator Heads to NBCUniversal
LOS ANGELES – Taylor Sheridan,the prolific creator behind hits like Yellowstone,has reached a new agreement with NBCUniversal,and sources confirm Paramount never formally offered a contract extension to keep him with the media conglomerate. The revelation sheds light on Sheridan’s departure and the dynamics at play between the creator and Paramount’s new leadership.
Sheridan had been in discussions with NBCUniversal’s entertainment & studios boss donna Langley throughout the summer.Langley initially approached Sheridan regarding a film deal, but conversations broadened to include television and streaming as Sheridan expressed reservations about renewing his television deal with Paramount.
The existing deal was valued at $1 billion, but Sheridan’s strong desire for creative independence was a key factor in his decision-making process. A 2022 Hollywood Reporter cover story aptly titled “Taylor Sheridan Does Whatever He Wants” foreshadowed this prioritization of control.
Sources indicate a clash in management styles contributed to the split. David Ellison, whose father Larry Ellison-co-founder of Oracle-is worth $342 billion, reportedly prefers a more hands-on approach. One source stated Sheridan “was running the asylum” at Paramount+,alleging the previous regime had granted him critically important control without accountability. “Ellison wants to run the show and he can’t with Sheridan there,” the source said.
Another source suggested Paramount may have strategically chosen to move on while Sheridan’s projects were still performing well, speculating that increased scrutiny from new Paramount executives like Cindy Holland prompted Sheridan and David Glasser to seek option offers. they also noted the dismissal of several former Paramount contacts following the change in leadership.
Ultimately, the lack of a formal offer from Paramount underscored the company’s position. The move represents a gamble for both parties: Ellison betting that Sheridan’s success may wane, and Langley believing there is continued potential in Sheridan’s work. As John Dutton famously stated in Yellowstone,”It’s the one constant in life: You build something worth having,someone’s gonna try to take it.” Langley, in this instance, acted on that belief, securing Sheridan for NBCUniversal.
Borys Kit and Alex Weprin contributed to this report.
