Taylor Sheridan Breaks US Setting Tradition with Scottish Drama The Laird

Television powerhouse Taylor Sheridan is reportedly preparing to take his signature storytelling style across the Atlantic for his next major project. According to industry reports, the Yellowstone creator has written a new Scotland-based drama titled The Laird, which is slated to begin filming as early as late July 2026. This move represents a significant departure for Sheridan, whose massive portfolio of streaming hits has previously focused almost exclusively on American landscapes and themes. By bridging the historical connection between Scotland and America, this upcoming series could expand his television universe into entirely new territory.

What happened

Reports indicate that Sheridan has penned a new drama set in Scotland titled The Laird. The project is expected to explore the historical links between Scotland and America, a theme previously touched upon in Yellowstone, where the Dutton family's ancestry was traced back to the Scottish Highlands. During the 18th and 19th centuries, large numbers of Scots emigrated across the Atlantic, while others became wealthy landowners involved in the trans-Atlantic slave trade—darker historical elements that the series is tipped to explore.

Production for the new series is rumored to begin as early as late July 2026, with Paramount+ eyeing a potential release window in 2027. This project comes at a time when Sheridan's popularity in the United Kingdom is exceptionally high, with five of his series—including Landman, Tulsa King, Marshals, Yellowstone, and Dutton Ranch—simultaneously occupying the Paramount+ top ten charts for British viewers.

Why it matters

This project marks the first time a Taylor Sheridan series will not be predominantly set in the United States, representing a major strategic shift for both the creator and Paramount+. By leveraging the established Scottish heritage of the Dutton family, the series could serve as an international prequel or spin-off, further binding the lucrative Yellowstone IP to global audiences. Additionally, tackling complex historical subjects like Scottish emigration and involvement in the trans-Atlantic slave trade signals a willingness to engage with darker, more global historical narratives than his traditional Westerns have previously explored.

How to think about it

Viewers and industry analysts should view The Laird as a logical evolution of Sheridan's brand rather than a complete departure. While the setting is international, the thematic core remains deeply tied to land, legacy, and historical migration—the very elements that made Yellowstone a cultural phenomenon. If the series successfully connects the ancestry of American pioneers to their Scottish roots, it could establish a blueprint for how domestic television franchises can organically transition into international co-productions without losing their core identity.

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