Donna Langley, chair of NBCUniversal Entertainment, has disclosed the strategy behind securing a massive new pact with television powerhouse Taylor Sheridan, effectively ending his decade-long tenure at Paramount.
Speaking at Bloomberg’s Screentime event on Thursday, Langley explained that her pursuit of the “Yellowstone” creator began when she identified a window of opportunity amid the “disruption and instability” rocking Paramount. While she did not explicitly name the studio, this likely alludes to the chaotic yearlong merger between Paramount and Skydance, which occurred while David Ellison was competing against Netflix for Warner Bros.
The critical differentiator in Langley’s negotiation was the movie division. She noted that while Sheridan held a first-look film deal at Paramount, it lacked the same leverage and robustness as his television agreement.
“Really, where I started talking to Taylor was about film,” Langley said. “I knew that he had a film deal at Paramount, but it was a first-look deal. Didn’t have as many teeth to it as his television deal. That’s how it started, and then we just got to talking and one thing led to another.”
Under the terms of the newly announced deal, which surfaced in late October 2025, Sheridan’s film obligations with NBCUniversal are set to begin in 2026. His television commitments to Paramount will continue until he fulfills his contractual obligations in 2028.
Sheridan originally made his mark in Hollywood as a screenwriter for major motion pictures, crafting hits such as “Sicario,” “Hell or High Water,” and “Wind River.” However, he has recently shifted his focus to building a sprawling television empire at Paramount, launching the “Yellowstone” franchise in 2018. The Western drama has generated numerous spinoffs, including “1923,” “The Madison,” “Dutton Ranch,” “Lioness,” “Marshals,” “Landman,” and “Mayor of Kingstown.”
Interesting how Langley spotted the instability at Paramount. She knew exactly where to strike. Smart move by NBCUniversal.
I’m just here for the Sicario movies again. Television empire is great, but nothing beats his early screenwriting work.
Paramount really let the best writer in television walk away over a half-baked film deal. Terrible negotiation on their end.
Wait, does this mean he’s leaving Yellowstone behind? I need to know if John Dutton is safe or if NBC is circling that universe too.
So film was the hook, but TV is the money. Classic Sheridan. I hope those films actually get made eventually.