Taylor Sheridan Proves He’s Still the King of Paramount+
Following his split from Paramount, showrunner Taylor Sheridan is forging a new partnership with NBCUniversal after establishing himself as the architect of Paramount+ success through the Yellowstone franchise and related properties. Since his departure, Sheridan has continued working on projects under his direct control, whilst other Paramount+ series bearing his name but overseen by different creative teams—including Dutton Ranch—have delivered strong viewership independently, drawing 6 billion minutes watched over eight weeks.
This weekend, Sheridan demonstrated his creative pull with the third season of a returning series he remains sole showrunner and writer for, which features him in a supporting on-screen role and stars Zoe Saldaña. The series debuted its first eight-episode season in 2023, followed by another eight in 2024, and the new season immediately ascended to the top of Paramount+ viewership upon premiering on 2 August, signalling that Sheridan's direct involvement remains a significant draw for the platform.
- Creator Taylor Sheridan departed Paramount to join NBCUniversal after building the Paramount+ platform through shows like Yellowstone
- His directly-overseen series with Zoe Saldaña premiered its third season on 2 August and immediately topped Paramount+ charts
- Yellowstone sequels without Sheridan's involvement still performed strongly, suggesting his brand remains valuable across creative leadership
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Sheridan built his reputation as the creative force behind Paramount+'s biggest hits, most notably the Yellowstone franchise, which turned the streaming service into a major destination for viewers. He has since parted ways with Paramount and is now moving into a new arrangement with NBCUniversal, while other shows connected to his world continue to run on Paramount+ under separate creative teams.
The story centres on how well Paramount+ content performs depending on whether Sheridan is directly involved. Shows carrying his name but run by other writers and producers have still pulled in large audiences, while a series he personally writes and oversees as showrunner, starring Zoe Saldaña, has also proven consistently popular since it began in 2023 and returned for further seasons.
This matters because it raises questions about how much of Paramount+'s success has depended on Sheridan personally, versus the broader franchise and universe he helped create, at a time when he is taking his talents elsewhere.