Taylor Sheridan isn’t as involved in Tulsa King as most people might believe, but that’s actually a good thing. Taylor Sheridan is the TV mega-producer behind shows like Yellowstone, Landman, and more. Even after 1923 season 2 earlier this year, Taylor Sheridan still has three more shows releasing before the end of the year that he’s labeled as a creator on, and he’s involved in two new Yellowstone spin-offs that are set to premiere in early 2026. The man writes dozens of television episodes annually, and he doesn’t even have a writer’s room to back him.
Taylor Sheridan’s tremendous productivity has raised questions about his degree of involvement in various projects. To develop all these shows would be a Herculean feat, but Tulsa King co-creator Terrence Winter revealed late last year that Sheridan isn’t actually involved in the show. Winter claimed that Sheridan sent him an original version of the pilot, but that he hasn’t been involved since. Winter also claimed he hadn’t even seen Taylor Sheridan since their initial meeting, confirming how little he’s had to do with the series.
Tulsa King’s Tone Is Very Different From Other Taylor Sheridan Shows
Tulsa King Is Lighter & Funnier Than Taylor Sheridan’s Shows
At first glance, Tulsa King could be mistaken for a Taylor Sheridan show; it has many of his usual elements. It’s got an aging, morally gray patriarch played by a veteran movie star, sharp dialogue, and an exploration of a sector of American life mixed with soap opera-like melodrama. With a closer look, however, it’s evidently written by a different person. The lighter tone that comes from Tulsa King’s humor is the biggest giveaway. Sheridan’s shows are funny at times, but it’s rare that scenes are so distinctly played for laughs as they are in Tulsa King.
Having a different tone is paramount for Tulsa King, lest it just be known as Yellowstone with the mafia instead of cowboys. Taylor Sheridan’s recent endeavor with Landman has already developed a reputation for being overtly similar to Yellowstone, with a very similar protagonist, a Western setting, and supporting characters that fulfill comparable archetypes. Tulsa King was lucky to have Taylor Sheridan at its inception, and his name brand certainly benefits its potential audience pool, but the show’s tone ultimately allows it to be more unique.
Taylor Sheridan Stepping Away Allowed Him To Work On Other Shows
He’s Developed Several TV Seasons Since Tulsa King Began
I’m sure Taylor Sheridan could have made something out of Tulsa King if he had wanted to, but the work he’s produced in the meantime has made it worthwhile. Landman has been praised for having his strongest opening season for a long-running series yet, with his writing and Billy Bob Thornton’s acting fitting like peanut butter and jelly. 1923 was also fantastic, somehow bringing out some of Harrison Ford and Helen Mirren’s strongest performances.
Taylor Sheridan is building up his body of work with numerous projects, but the Yellowstone franchise still appears to be his main focus. After Yellowstone and 1923’s ending, there appear to be more spin-off shows in development than ever. The Madison, starring Michelle Pfeiffer, is planned for an early 2026 premiere date, set to continue exploring similar ideas of land and the cattle industry in America. A CBS procedural drama following Kayce Dutton is also set to begin early in 2026.
It’s hard to say what the effect of Sheridan doing Tulsa King himself would be, but it seems like a colossal win for everyone that he didn’t. He has so many shows in development, and Paramount+ needs original content from more than just him. Audiences await Tulsa King season 3, which will premiere in September 2025. Mayor of Kingstown returns in October 2025, and Landman returns for season 2 in November 2025. There’s plenty of Sheridan shows to enjoy before the end of the year, and new ones to begin next year.