Taylor Sheridan joins NBCUniversal from Paramount

NBCUniversal has made a significant splash in Hollywood by attracting some of the industry's biggest names to its roster. The company's reputation as one of the most filmmaker-friendly operations in town has been instrumental in this achievement.

One notable example is Taylor Sheridan, the mastermind behind popular TV series such as Yellowstone and Lioness. He recently left Paramount to join NBCUniversal, where he will be focusing on film projects. With a background in feature films, including Sicario and Wind River, Sheridan's expertise will undoubtedly bring value to Universal's slate.

The decision to poach Sheridan was made by Donna Langley, the chairman of NBCUniversal Entertainment. In an interview, she revealed that her team sees opportunities arise when companies are going through periods of disruption and instability. This is precisely what happened at Paramount, which had a first-look deal with Sheridan for film projects but not a robust TV agreement.

Langley saw an opening in film, where she believed Universal could offer Sheridan a more substantial deal than his current arrangement at Paramount. As a result, Sheridan's film deal will kick in next year, while his TV agreement will follow suit in 2028.

The move is expected to bring a boost to NBCUniversal's film division, which has been working hard to establish itself as a major player in Hollywood. With high-profile projects on the horizon, the company is poised for significant growth and success in the years to come.

Universal's film division is experiencing a remarkable year at the box office, with several projects exceeding expectations and breaking records.

The studio's success can be attributed in part to its ability to attract top talent, including Christopher Nolan, who left his longtime home at Warner Bros. to join Universal for his 2023 feature Oppenheimer. This film not only grossed $975 million globally but also won the Oscar for best picture.

Nolan's The Odyssey has been a major contributor to Universal's box office success, becoming the studio's highest-grossing film to date when it surpassed $1.684 billion in September. As of now, the film continues to perform well, with a global gross of over $1.753 billion.

When asked about Nolan's future projects, Langley noted that each of his films is able to go to market independently, as the director prefers not to be tied to any one studio. This arrangement allows Universal to continue working with Nolan on a project-by-project basis.

In contrast to its successes, Universal has also experienced some box office misses in recent years. The latest Minions outing, Minions & Monsters, grossed $523 million globally, which is roughly half of what the previous film earned in 2022.

Langley attributed the lower earnings to the fact that the franchise has been around for nearly two decades, with a relatively short gap between films. She suggested that an additional year may have helped build anticipation and made the story more appealing to younger audiences who might have found the old Hollywood setting confusing.

Universal Pictures' Chair Donna Langley acknowledged that there's a limit to what can be asked of legendary filmmakers like Steven Spielberg. However, she emphasized that their partnership is built on his exceptional producing skills and thought leadership across various aspects of the business.

In addition to producing films, Spielberg brings his expertise to Universal's theme parks and news ventures. His involvement goes beyond directing hits, with notable examples including the ongoing Jurassic World franchise. This broad range of contributions underscores Langley's perspective that Spielberg is a valuable partner due to his unique skillset.

Langley also mentioned other prominent filmmakers she'd like to collaborate with, naming Ryan Coogler as one such talent.