A television writer complains Taylor Sheridan after claiming he stole her idea for the show it eventually became Yellowstone.
Entertainment journalist Lauren J. Salkin According to multiple media outlets, the company filed a copyright infringement lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California on Friday, August 21st. The lawsuit, which named Sheridan, 56, his management company Elevate Entertainment, Paramount and NBCUniversal as defendants, alleged that Salkin submitted a finished pilot, show bible and pitch deck for a series titled Sovereign nation to Sheridan’s representatives in late 2016 and early 2017.
Salkin described the show as a “dramatic television series revolving around tribal leadership, casino-driven economic power and a modern war for land and development.” After working on the idea for over a decade, Salkin submitted it to Elevate and received a response in early 2017 that Sheridan had passed away.
“Taylor thanks you very much for your interest,” the alleged response reads. “Unfortunately he is not available for TV projects.”
Paramount then gave Sheridan’s the green light Yellowstone “within months.” The series, which ran from 2018 to 2024, was about the fictional Dutton family, who own the largest ranch in Montana. The franchise has since grown to include several spin-offs and prequels including Dutton Ranch And Marshals.
Sheridan has previously spoken to The Hollywood Reporter in 2023 about how Yellowstone began as a film and claimed to have pitched it as The Godfather of Montana before the series ended up in development at HBO. Due to alleged problems with the network, HBO made no progress Yellowstoneand Sheridan shopped it to TNT and TBS before Paramount agreed to produce it.
In her complaint, Salkin alleged that a senior creative executive at HBO – who had previously reviewed creative materials for Sovereign Nation – told her Sheridan’s concept for Yellowstone sounded similar when it was brought in.
According to the lawsuit, the HBO executive “immediately terminated Sheridan’s project at HBO for this reason.”
Taylor Sheridan’s TV universe has had great success – but his projects have also brought with them many changes as showrunner. After beginning his career as an actor, Sheridan began writing scripts for films. He began his television empire with Yellowstone, which aired from 2018 to 2024. Sheridan then created the prequels 1883 and 1923 as well as (…)
Salkin claimed that the main plot devices, story mechanics and character functions were the same Yellowstone and sovereign nation. She also claimed Yellowstone introduced several performers that she had suggested in her own list Sovereign nation.
After Yellowstone’s success “raised billions of dollars,” Salkin is seeking damages and profits related to the alleged copyright infringement, as well as an injunction preventing the defendants from continuing to use her copyrighted material.
A specific total amount of damages is not mentioned in the statement of claim.
“This is a classic David versus Goliath situation. She spent years putting together the specific and layered framework for a story that has become the biggest streaming success of all time,” said a statement from Salkin’s attorney Paul B. Lackey. “She has witnessed the enormous commercial success of this story that was stolen from her and has come to the conclusion that enough is enough. We will do everything in our power to bring her justice.”
Us asked Sheridan for comment.
