'Yellowstone' creator Taylor Sheridan explains $1b move to NBCUniversal, a blockbuster deal compared to his previous $200m contract with Paramount

After creating a string of popular shows for Paramount over the years, Taylor Sheridan is on his way to join a competitor. Sheridan, the creator of "Yellowstone" and other hits, signed a blockbuster deal with NBCUniversal late last year. The deal will commence in 2029, as part of which Sheridan is set to create some 20 new series. The five-year overall deal is worth an estimated $1 billion, according to Deadline.

Sheridan explains switch to NBC

"The beauty of it is to get an opportunity to work with Donna Langley — her taste is impeccable," Sheridan told Yahoo Finance Invest during an interaction. "Her understanding of the industry and our business is unrivaled. She looks for marquee storytellers, and she trusts them," he added.


Donna Langley is the chair of NBCUniversal Entertainment, and is widely considered the most filmmaker-friendly studio boss in Hollywood today.

"The whole town was gossiping and panicking about 'The Odyssey.' It's so expensive. What this, what's that. But look who she bet on — Christopher Nolan's one of the best filmmakers alive," Sheridan explained.

"And it worked, and it worked extremely well. Right? And it checked the creative boxes, and then checked the financial boxes. And yes, it was a huge hurdle. And she sailed over it. So she bets on you. She bets on winners," he added.

Shedding light on his exit from Paramount, Sheridan told Yahoo: "I've never had a show canceled. I've never had a show that wasn't produced. Every show I've ever made was a hit. So I've earned the right to go somewhere that trusts me to do the same thing for them."

Sheridan's most recent TV overall deal with Paramount Global was worth $200 million, according to a report by Deadline.

Taylor Sheridan's journey

After beginning as an actor, Sheridan turned to screenwriting in his forties. His career took a great leap when he co-created "Yellowstone", a drama that went on to become a multi-series television empire. Sheridan has also created the show's two prequels: "1883" and "1923".

He is also the creator behind "CIA", the military drama "Lioness", "Landman", and "Tulsa King".