David Ellison Doesn’t Need Taylor Sheridan

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David Ellison has only been CEO of Paramount for a few months, but he’s already facing significant backlash. CBS News employees are upset by his attempts to shift the network towards a more conservative viewpoint by hiring individuals with openly right-leaning views. The approximately 2,000 Paramount employees who received layoff notices this week are also likely unhappy with his leadership. Adding to the tension, prominent writer-producer-director Taylor Sheridan signaled his disapproval by signing a major new deal with a competing studio, even though his current contract with Paramount doesn’t expire for another three years.

Okay, so officially, Taylor Sheridan hasn’t publicly said anything about leaving Paramount or joining NBCUniversal. And honestly, creatives switching studios happens all the time without drama. But ever since Puck reported on Sunday that Sheridan was heading to Universal, people close to him have been really vocal about how Paramount and David Ellison messed things up. It’s like they’re eager to point out where things went wrong, and it’s definitely creating a buzz.

Several projects involving Taylor Sheridan faced difficulties at Paramount. A previous film idea didn’t get approval, and a Warner Bros. deal was reportedly stalled. There were also concerns that Cindy Holland, Paramount’s streaming head, was scrutinizing the budgets for Sheridan’s shows too closely. A misstep occurred when Holland cast Nicole Kidman in a new series without first consulting Sheridan, who also works with her on the popular Paramount+ show Lioness. One source even claimed Sheridan was frustrated that Paramount sent too many executives to a meeting meant to retain him, suggesting a smaller group – just the CEO and two others – would have been more effective in building a connection. This insider told The Hollywood Reporter that a more personal approach would have meant a lot to Sheridan.

It’s not unusual for someone in Hollywood to choose a new home or company because of a feeling or a disagreement with colleagues. Shonda Rhimes, for example, later revealed she left Disney for Netflix after a Disney executive criticized her for getting a Disneyland pass for her sister. Considering how much money Paramount pays Taylor Sheridan, it’s understandable that those in charge might not realize how much attention he needs. His shows often feature characters who seem to operate under a strict, transactional view of work, yet he clearly thrives on feeling valued and appreciated.

Putting aside the complex reasons behind Sheridan’s move, the main questions are whether Ellison made a mistake by not retaining him, and if NBCUniversal’s Donna Langley is paying too much for his work. In my opinion, the answer to both is no.

Is This Actually Good for Paramount?

Losing a key creative talent like Taylor Sheridan so early in his tenure is a setback for Bob Bakish, especially since Bakish had publicly praised Sheridan after becoming CEO. However, a company as large as Paramount isn’t built on a single person or even one successful franchise. This is especially true in Sheridan’s case, as he’s already created a world of characters and stories that can continue to be developed and used for years to come.

We saw a similar pattern after Shonda Rhimes and Ryan Murphy both left Disney for Netflix in 2017 and 2018. Despite their departures, ABC continued to air Grey’s Anatomy and even approved a spin-off, Station 19, just months after Rhimes’ official exit. Though Murphy has since returned to Disney, during his time at Netflix, Disney’s FX channel kept producing seasons of shows like American Horror Story and Feud, and the studio expanded the 9-1-1 franchise—originally on Fox, then moving to ABC.

Taylor Sheridan has already developed a lot of successful content for Paramount, and he has even more projects in the works, including a potential Call of Duty movie. This means Paramount+ could easily keep producing Sheridan series for years – possibly into the mid-2030s – even while he’s creating new shows for Peacock. On top of that, Paramount owns Yellowstone, which is expected to be Sheridan’s most popular series ever and, like shows such as Game of Thrones and Grey’s Anatomy, will likely continue to attract a large audience for years to come. Essentially, Paramount will benefit from Sheridan’s work long after he stops working directly for them, and they’ll also avoid the complexities of managing those relationships.

The View From NBCUniversal

For Langley and NBCUniversal, a deal with Sheridan likely offers more benefits than risks. Reports suggest the agreement could cost over $1 billion over five years, but that number seems high. These reports emphasize the cost is dependent on Sheridan producing a significant number of successful films and TV shows. However, the poor ratings of Sheridan’s new CBS reality show, The Road, indicate that level of success is unlikely.

Bringing on someone as well-known as Sheridan definitely comes with a high price tag, and that’s perfectly acceptable. While some people joke about his difficult personality or the need to tread carefully around him, it’s clear his approach resonates with a large audience. Importantly, other big stars—with perhaps the exception of Kevin Costner—seem eager to collaborate with him, and his new partner at Universal feels the same way. From what I understand, Sheridan had a good relationship with the previous leadership at Paramount because they gave him creative freedom and generously funded his projects.

He likely anticipates Langley will continue supporting Sheridan’s current work, but Langley brings a strong creative perspective – especially for films – and a talent for improving projects. Universal will undoubtedly want Sheridan to develop successful TV series, but it’s probable that Langley’s conversations with him centered on how Universal Pictures could help him create popular movies, potentially even a film series as successful as Yellowstone. If Langley can achieve this, alongside securing a couple of solid TV hits from Sheridan, she’ll be well on her way to recouping her investment in him.

If she doesn’t approve, it likely won’t matter for long. Hollywood is changing rapidly with many companies merging and executives leaving. It’s very possible that Langley, like many others currently in charge at NBCU, won’t be working there by the time Taylor Sheridan’s new shows begin streaming around 2030.

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2025-10-30 23:57