‘Yellowstone’ Creator ‘Quits’ After Clash with Pro-Trump Boss 

Taylor Sheridan, the mastermind behind the Yellowstone franchise that has captivated middle America, is leaving Paramount after years of hits. The shake-up is reportedly tied to the studio’s new CEO, David Ellison.

According to the Wall Street Journal, one sticking point was a request from Ellison for Sheridan to create a series tied to America’s 250th anniversary next year. Sources say Sheridan pushed back, refusing to make his shows “overtly political.”

Yellowstone has often been labeled a conservative or red-state show, thanks to the Dutton family’s traditional values and wariness of outsiders. But Sheridan has pushed back against that label. In 2022, he told The Hollywood Reporter that the series explores plenty of progressive themes. Back in 2019, he told the New York Times that he remains “apolitical publicly” and wants to show multiple perspectives rather than preach to the audience.

The WSJ report also mentions other tensions between Sheridan and Paramount, including disagreements over the budget for his series Lioness and a rejected film script. There was also friction when Paramount cast Nicole Kidman—who stars in Lioness—in another legal drama, Discretion, without Sheridan’s input, potentially messing with his shooting schedule.

Paramount has been home to Sheridan’s shows since Yellowstone debuted in 2018, spawning spin-offs and hits along the way. But now, Sheridan is taking his talents elsewhere. He has signed a new five-year deal with NBC Universal, which will allow him to make movies starting next year and new TV series for NBCU channels beginning in 2029, once his Paramount contract expires. Reports suggest the deal could be worth up to $1 billion, depending on how his new projects perform.

Ellison has faced criticism for reportedly steering CBS and Paramount in a more conservative direction, with moves like canceling The Late Show with Stephen Colbert in July and hiring anti-woke journalist Bari Weiss as CBS News’ new editor-in-chief in October. Sheridan’s departure adds another twist to the growing drama behind the scenes.