The breakdown of Sheridan's new deal
In a monumental shakeup of the television landscape, superstar creator Taylor Sheridan is leaving his longtime home at Paramount for NBCUniversal in a deal reportedly worth up to $1 billion. The move, which comes after friction with the new Paramount leadership following the Skydance merger, will see the architect of the Yellowstone universe transition his television and film projects to NBCUniversal starting in 2029.
Film deal: Sheridan's new film deal with Universal Pictures will begin in 2026, after his current commitments to Paramount are fulfilled.
Television deal: He will remain under contract with Paramount for all television series through 2028, with his new TV deal with NBCUniversal taking effect on January 1, 2029.
Project scope: The five-year deal is contingent on Sheridan creating approximately 20 new shows for NBC and its streaming service, Peacock.
Producing partner follows: Sheridan's longtime collaborator and 101 Studios partner, David Glasser, is also joining NBCUniversal on a first-look deal starting in 2026.
Why Sheridan left Paramount
The departure was prompted by a growing rift between Sheridan and Paramount's new leadership under CEO David Ellison, who took over following the Skydance merger in summer 2025.
Budgetary oversight: Tensions reportedly escalated when the new regime questioned the budgets of Sheridan's projects, including the big-budget spy thriller Special Ops: Lioness.
Creative differences: Sources indicate that a film script pitched by Sheridan was rejected by the new leadership, and new executives suggested show ideas to the famously independent creator, leading to friction.
Loss of key allies: The exit of several executives who had long championed Sheridan, including former Media Networks CEO Chris McCarthy, reportedly added to his dissatisfaction.
What this means for the future
Paramount's loss: The departure is a significant blow for Paramount+, which built its streaming identity and subscriber base largely on the strength of Sheridan's hits like Yellowstone, Mayor of Kingstown, and Tulsa King. The platform will now have to build its future without its most prolific hitmaker.
NBCUniversal's gain: This move is a massive win for NBCUniversal and its streaming platform, Peacock, which will now have a steady pipeline of content from one of the industry's most bankable creators. The deal is particularly impactful for Peacock, which already holds the streaming rights to Yellowstone and is now positioned to become Sheridan's new creative home.
What about current shows?: All existing shows and any new projects produced through 2028 will remain under the Paramount banner. This means the Yellowstone universe and other hits will not immediately jump ship, but Sheridan will be creating new stories elsewhere once his current contract is up.
Taylor Sheridan: The creator behind Yellowstone, 1923, and other mega-hits is leaving Paramount and heading to NBCUniversal after his current contract expires. This move shakes up the TV landscape, particularly for Paramount+, which relied heavily on his content. The decision reportedly stemmed from clashes with the new Paramount leadership over budgets and creative control. Get ready for a new era of Taylor Sheridan TV shows and movies on Peacock and Universal.