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Forget ‘Yellowstone,’ Paramount+ Has a Perfect Neo-Western Adaptation Waiting in the Wings
Paramount+ faces a strategic challenge as Taylor Sheridan, the architect of its Western programming dominance, transitions to NBCUniversal in 2028. An entertainment writer proposes that the platform should develop new Western adaptations to fill this gap, specifically recommending Mark Z. Danielewski's recent novel 'Tom's Crossing' as an exemplary candidate despite the author's previous scepticism about screen adaptation.
The novel follows Kalin March, a teenage outsider living in rural Utah, who befriends a classmate named Tom and bonds with him over caring for two neglected horses. After Tom's terminal cancer diagnosis, Kalin pledges to rescue the horses from slaughter and lead them to freedom through Isatch Canyon. Accompanied by Tom's sister and complicated by the intervention of a rival family member, Kalin navigates both the physical dangers of the canyon and supernatural encounters with Tom's spirit, whilst the powerful Porch family pursues them relentlessly.
In short
- Paramount+ stands to lose its dominant Western creator Taylor Sheridan to NBCUniversal in 2028, prompting discussion of replacement programming
- The 2025 neo-Western novel 'Tom's Crossing' by Mark Z. Danielewski is proposed as ideal adaptation material for the streaming platform
- The story centres on a teenage outsider's quest to rescue horses from slaughter whilst evading pursuit by a powerful family through a dangerous canyon
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Paramount+ should develop Western adaptations including Tom's Crossing to secure its position in a genre where it has built subscriber loyalty through Taylor Sheridan's work. As Sheridan departs for NBCUniversal in 2028, the platform risks losing audiences specifically attracted to its Western catalogue; investing in quality literary adaptations demonstrates strategic foresight and commitment to the genre. Tom's Crossing offers narratively sophisticated material—blending coming-of-age storytelling with supernatural elements and family drama—that could both satisfy existing Western fans and broaden appeal to audiences seeking character-driven narratives with literary pedigree.
The case against
Rather than doubling down on Westerns as Sheridan departs, Paramount+ should strategically diversify away from a genre increasingly defined by legacy content and nostalgia-driven storytelling. Adapting Mark Z. Danielewski, whose work is deliberately unconventional and narratively complex, presents substantial production risks; his documented reservations about screen adaptation suggest the material may resist translation to conventional formats. The platform's resources would be better deployed developing original series or acquiring rights in genres with broader contemporary appeal, allowing Paramount+ to build its own distinct identity rather than remaining dependent on a declining genre as competitors consolidate Western content elsewhere.
Explained simply
Paramount+ is a streaming service that has built considerable success in recent years through Western television programmes created by Taylor Sheridan, who has become closely associated with the platform's strategy in this genre. However, Sheridan is moving to a competing studio, NBCUniversal, in 2028, presenting a significant challenge for Paramount+ to develop new Western content for its future lineup.
An entertainment writer has suggested that the platform should look towards adapting Mark Z. Danielewski's recent novel "Tom's Crossing" as a potential avenue for fresh Western storytelling. The novel follows Kalin March, a teenage outsider in rural Utah, who becomes close friends with a classmate named Tom and together they tend to two neglected horses; when Tom receives a terminal cancer diagnosis, Kalin pledges to rescue them from slaughter and lead them to freedom through Isatch Canyon.
The narrative encompasses both physical adventure and supernatural elements, as Kalin encounters Tom's spirit whilst being pursued by the wealthy and influential Porch family, with Tom's sister joining the journey. Though Danielewski has previously expressed hesitation about seeing his work adapted for the screen, the writer argues the novel could serve as a strong foundation for maintaining Paramount+'s Western content in the years ahead.