One of the biggest names in film and television is making a huge move to a new distributor, and it’s the kind of move that could have a major effect on the ongoing streaming wars.
For years, Paramount has been the exclusive home to popular series like “Yellowstone,” “Landman” and “1883.” Showrunner and creator Taylor Sheridan has produced several successful shows and movies for Paramount, but he’s set to make a big change at the end of his current contract.
According to Puck, Sheridan is set to move to NBCUniversal at the expiration of his current deal with Paramount. The current agreement ends at the end of the year, and Sheridan will start 2026 with NBCUniversal.
The deal is reportedly set to last for eight years, and Sheridan’s move to NBCUniversal’s TV platforms is set to begin in 2028. 101 Studios, the production company responsible for all of Sheridan’s shows, is also on the move to NBCUniversal.
Paramount’s Change Under New Leadership
The move comes after Paramount’s strategy change under new CEO David Ellison. The media company signed “South Park” creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone to a massive new deal, and also brought in “Stranger Things” creators Matt and Ross, the Duffer brothers.
The company also made a major play for live sports, spending $7.7 billion to become the exclusive streaming home of the UFC.
Paramount owns the rights to “Yellowstone” and many more Sheridan projects, but the producer and writer will have time to work on new IP for NBCUniversal.
Sheridan’s new shows and movies would likely appear on NBC and Peacock when they premiere in the future.
Sheridan’s Outlook on Creativity
Creative freedom is a major component of Sheridan’s work, and it appears that he wanted a greater level of it at a new distribution company. “I spent the first 37 years of my life compromising,” the Academy Award nominee said in a 2023 interview with The Hollywood Reporter.
“When I quit acting, I decided that I am going to tell my stories my way, period. If you don’t want me to tell them, fine. Give them back and I’ll find someone who does — or I won’t, and then I’ll read them in some freaking dinner theater. But I won’t compromise. There is no compromising.”
In addition to “Yellowstone,” Sheridan has also worked on series like “Tulsa King,” “Lioness” and “Mayor of Kingstown.” His shows and films have starred some of Hollywood’s best and brightest, including Helen Mirren, Harrison Ford, Sam Elliott, Sylvester Stallone and Zoe Saldana.
