Yellowstone creator Taylor Sheridan strikes shock five-year deal with NBC Universal from 2029

Yellowstone creator Taylor Sheridan is to leave Paramount Skydance after striking a shock new TV and film deal with NBC Universal.

The five-year pact will start in January 2029 and covers all streaming, TV and film projects, with Sheridan’s producing partner David Glasser and his 101 Studios also moving to the Comcast-owned outfit.

While Sheridan will remain with Paramount until the end of 2028, Glasser’s agreement starts early next year according to US reports. Puck broke news of the deal with NBCU.

Sheridan has been with Paramount Television for almost seven years, during which he has become a mainstay for the company and its streamer Paramount+, with shows such as Landman, Lioness and Tulsa King.

His Yellowstone universe has also spawned prequels 1883 and 1923, while upcoming projects include further spin-offs The Madison and Beth & Rip, which are destined for Paramount+.

The departure of Sheridan will come as a blow to Paramount Skydance chief exec David Ellison, who described the prolific creative as “a singular genius” to CNBC earlier this year.

Streaming chief Cindy Holland had also praised Sheridan, giving top billing to his shows when the merger closed and describing them as providing a “great foundation” for Paramount+. 

Ellison and Holland had kickstarted Paramount Skydance’s creative drive with a splashy deal to bring Stranger Things creators Matt and Ross Duffer to the company in August.

Sheridan’s move comes alongside major c-suite changes at Paramount Skydance, however, with a raft of senior execs who he worked with, including former Paramount Global chief exec Chris McCarthy, now departed.