Writer alleges Taylor Sheridan stole her concept for Yellowstone series

Lauren J. Salkin, a television writer and entertainment journalist, has sued creator Taylor Sheridan along with NBCUniversal and Paramount, alleging that the concept for the series Yellowstone was derived from her pilot script “Sovereign Nation.” According to court filings, she submitted the script and supporting documents to Sheridan’s company between 2016 and 2017 and received a response from Elevate Entertainment confirming receipt.

Salkin contends that within months the network approved Yellowstone, which premiered in 2018 and later expanded into multiple spin-offs. She points to similarities in characters, plot elements and overall tone, providing a detailed character breakdown in her complaint. The lawsuit asks for an injunction to stop any ongoing or future infringement and seeks monetary relief that would encompass the series’ profits. Neither Sheridan’s team nor the studios have commented on the allegations.