Taylor Sheridan is facing a new lawsuit from a television writer who claims he used her original concept to create his hit show Yellowstone.

The lawsuit, filed in a California federal court, names Sheridan, his management company, and both Paramount and NBCUniversal as defendants. 

In the complaint, writer Lauren J. Salkin claims she pitched a completed pilot and detailed show concept for a series called Sovereign Nation to Sheridan’s team back in late 2016 and early 2017.

Salkin describes the show as a drama centered on tribal governance, casino-driven economic power, and conflicts over land development. She claims she was told shortly afterward that Sheridan had passed on the project, only for Paramount to greenlight Yellowstone within months.

Yellowstone premiered in 2018 and later became available on Peacock as well.

In the lawsuit, Salkin argues that Yellowstone shares significant similarities with her original concept, including plot elements, character roles, and casting ideas she had proposed. 

She also claims that a television executive who had reviewed her original pitch later recognised similar elements in Sheridan’s project and decided not to move forward with a related deal at another network as a result.

The lawsuit argues that the Yellowstone franchise, which includes several spinoff shows, has generated significant financial success for those involved, while Salkin says she has not received any compensation.

Salkin is seeking damages and a court order preventing further use of her original material. 

Her attorney described the situation as a major legal battle between an individual writer and large entertainment companies, saying they intend to pursue the case fully.

“This is a classic David-versus-Goliath situation. She spent years putting together the specific and multi-layered framework for a story that has become the biggest streaming success of all time. She has watched the vast commercial success of this story that was stolen from her and decided that enough was enough. We will do everything in our power to get her justice.”