Writer/director/creator/showrunner Taylor Sheridan is practically a streaming service unto himself. Thanks to the success of his “Yellowstone” modern Western/family/crime series, which is the biggest hit on television right now and a massive boon to Paramount and its streaming service Paramount+ Sheridan can do whatever he wants. No, really. So far, that’s meant he’s been able to launch two more shows, the “Yellowstone” Western prequel “1883,” following the great grandparents of the main characters, and “The Mayor of Kingstown,” Michigan-based prison industrial complex series, but that’s just the tip of the iceberg.
As just announced, Sheridan is doing yet another “Yellowstone” series set one generation after “1883” and titled “1993.” It’ll feature the characters who are now kids on that show. But Sheridan has at least three additional shows coming, and while they’ve been announced already, Paramount did provide logos for each and assuring that each one was on the way. Of course, no real details on when we’ll see these shows, but here’s what was offered:
“Bass Reeves“: A Black Western centered around a character played by David Oyelowo (previously announced), who is one of the first known African American law Marshals west of the Mississippi. “That’s a parallel world,” Sheridan said of the milieu created in “1883.” “The 1880s… he’s policing the entire Oklahoma territories.”
“The Tulsa King:” Previously titled “Kanas City,” Paramount revealed the new title of this mob series set to star Sylvester Stallone in his first series lead role ever.
Here’s the previously announced logline: “The Tulsa King” follows a New York City Italian mobster (Stallone), forced to relocate to the most unlikely of places—Kansas City, Missouri. Set in the present-day, legendary mobster Sal (Stallone) is faced with the startling task of reestablishing his Italian mafia family to the modernized, straight-shooting town of Kansas City. There, Sal encounters surprising and unsuspecting characters who follow him along his unconventional path to power.
For “Land Man,” Sheridan revealed the series was written for Billy Bob Thornton. Here’s the previous synopsis: Set in the proverbial boomtowns of West Texas, Land Man is a modern-day tale of fortune-seeking in the world of oil rigs. The series is an upstairs/downstairs story of roughnecks and wildcat billionaires fueling a boom so big, it’s reshaping our climate, our economy, and our geopolitics. Land Man will be executive produced by Sheridan and produced by David Glasser, Ron Burkle, and Bob Yari. The series will also be executive produced by Dan Friedkin and Jason Hoch from Imperative Entertainment and Scott Brown and Megan Creydt from Texas Monthly.
There’s also “Lioness,” a female-driven CIA/Special Forces series, and Nicole Kidman will be a producer on it. Moreover, in the Paramount clip, he revealed Zoe Saldana will star in the series. Sheridan called it a deep dive into how espionage and the military have blurred.
But hardcore “Yellowstone” fans will ask: what about “6666,” the Four Sixes show meant to center on a ranch in Texas affiliated to “Yellowstone” and teased at the end of this recent season four? Nothing yet, which may mean, it’s either still in development or plans have been scuttled. Still, if you want to be a completist about things, that’s everything mentioned and not mentioned in this Sheridan-verse presentation.
Here are the official details from Paramount:
- 1932 – the next chapter of the Yellowstone origin story is ordered. Produced by MTV Entertainment Studios and 101 Studios, 1932 will follow a new generation of Duttons during the time of western expansion, Prohibition and the Great Depression.
- Land Man – Academy Award® winner Billy Bob Thornton has been tapped to lead the upcoming series as a crisis manager for an oil company. Land Man will be executive produced by Taylor Sheridan and David C. Glasser, Ron Burkle, Bob Yari, David Hutkin and Geyer Kosinski. The series will also be executive produced by Dan Friedkin, Jason Hoch, Scott Brown, and Megan Creydt.
- Lioness – Zoe Saldaña will play ‘Joe,’ a strong-willed, hard-nosed, station chief of the CIA’s Lioness Program, and the show will be executive produced by Taylor Sheridan, David C. Glasser, Ron Burkle, Bob Yari and David Hutkin. Tom Brady will also serve as executive producer and showrunner. Nicole Kidman, with her production company Blossom Films, Zoe Saldaña, Geyer Kosinski, and Jill Wagner are also set to executive produce.
- Tulsa King – previously announced and starring Sylvester Stallone, production begins March 2022 and the series will premiere this Fall.
While we’re here, here are some more details on Paramount-related TV that is not connected to the Sheridan-verse.
Upcoming international hits in the making include:
- A Gentleman in Moscow(UK) – based on the best-selling novel by Amor Towles, this drama series tells the story of Count Rostov who, in 1922, finds himself stuck in Moscow and on the wrong side of history. The Communist Party agrees to let him live but he is never allowed to set foot outside the Metropole Hotel until the day he dies. Co-produced by ViacomCBS International Studios (VIS) and eOne.
- Sexy Beast (UK) – the prequel series, based on the hit cult classic film of the same name, begins with Gal Dove and Don Logan just as they descend into the seductive madness of the London criminal world during the vibrant and volatile 1990s. At its core, this is a love story between two men — à la Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. In association with VIS, produced by Chapter One, with showrunner Michael Caleo (The Sopranos).
- Simon Beckett’s The Chemistry of Death (Germany) – a thrilling, psychological crime series based on Simon Beckett’s bestselling novels following forensic anthropologist Dr. David Hunter. Written by BAFTA-winning screenwriter Sukey Venables Fisher (Electricity, Unconditional) and directed by Richard R. Clark (War of the Worlds, Versailles, Outlander), the series will be shot in the UK. Producing partners are Nadcon Film and Cuba Pictures, in association with VIS.
- Yonder (South Korea) – set in 2032, Yonder is an unknown space designed for the dead to be able to live on by uploading memories of their lifetime from their brain. The story unfolds as a man receives a message from his deceased wife, inviting him to the unknown space, ‘Yonder’. The drama/science-fiction series raises questions about life and death and what it means to have eternal happiness as humanity comes face to face with a world created by advancements in science technology. Presented by TVING (CJ ENM’s streaming platform) and ViacomCBS, produced by Doodoong Pictures and CJ ENM, directed by Lee Joon-ik.
These new titles join a growing roster of previously announced and highly-anticipated scripted series, including Fatal Attraction, Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies, Rabbit Hole, and The Offer.
Additionally, Season 2 renewals for Halo, and international hits Cecilia and Los Enviados (The Envoys) were announced. Season 2 of Super Pumped and Season 7 of Billions for SHOWTIME were also ordered.