Following Netflix’s boom and the impact of COVID, other industry giants proceeded to walk in the streaming giant’s footsteps to capitalize on the shifting trends in the entertainment sector. While Disney relied on its biggest cash cow Marvel to garner viewers, Paramount on the other hand has been completely dependent on Taylor Sheridan.
Since striking gold on TV with Yellowstone, the Sicario writer has helmed several IPs for Paramount, and given his impact on Paramount Plus, in 2021, the writer signed a huge deal to continue his dominance on the small screen.
Taylor Sheridan reportedly signed a $200M deal with Paramount
When Yellowstone initially debuted in Paramount’s then-niche cable network, most didn’t bank on it being the biggest TV show on the planet. But with five seasons in, accompanied by multiple spin-offs, Sheridan has continued to produce hit shows for the network. Moreover, the industry giant’s very own streaming service, Paramount Plus, is riddled with Sheridan’s works, including Tulsa King, Special Ops: Lioness, and the recent western tale, Landman.
These shows fall under Sheridan’s whopping $200M deal (via Global Publicist) with Paramount’s parent company, ViacomCBS, which covers the cost of his ongoing projects. As for his earnings from Yellowstone, sources have estimated that he earns between $1.3M and $250K for each episode, but given his estimated net worth of $70M, the former seems more likely.
Taylor Sheridan didn’t accomplish his real goal with Yellowstone
While Yellowstone cemented Taylor Sheridan‘s status as one of the most lucrative writers in Hollywood, surprisingly, the Sicario writer once recalled that he felt “I didn’t accomplish anything” (via THR).
At the core, Yellowstone represented a dying American way of life amidst its clash with modernity. Considering the Hell or High Water writer grew up admiring the traditional American lifestyle and spent most of his time on the ranch, with Yellowstone, he initially aimed to kickstart a conversation around safeguarding them.
Although the writer felt he was somewhat successful in his quest after Yellowstone‘s initial boom, Sheridan quickly realized the notion would simply go away once the show was done.
I thought I had tricked people by showing a world worth protecting. But when the show is over, that notion will go away and there will be a new shiny penny everyone watches. So I felt like I didn’t accomplish anything — which, for me, is really important. Sicario is entertaining, but it’s about something: the jumbled mess at the border.
On the bright side, Sheridan is showing no signs of slowing down with his romanticization of westerns onscreen, and given the results, the top brass at Paramount would be certainly happy.