Taylor Sheridan, 101 Studios Pick Up Andrew Lauren Scripts

Taylor Sheridan and 101 Studios have added two new screenplays to their development slate, acquiring scripts from Andrew Lauren, the producer best known for his work on the critically acclaimed period drama The Brutalist. The deal, confirmed by representatives for both parties, extends one of Hollywood's most prolific production partnerships while tapping a producer with a taste for ambitious, character-driven storytelling.

The two projects have not yet been assigned directors or cast. Plot details remain under wraps, but sources indicate that both scripts lean into the kind of rugged, character-driven narratives that Sheridan has built his brand on - high-stakes tales set against expansive American backdrops. Andrew Lauren's involvement as producer suggests a commitment to maintaining the scale and emotional weight that defined The Brutalist, which earned multiple award nominations for its epic yet intimate portrayal of an architect's life.

This latest acquisition is the continuation of a busy year for Sheridan and 101 Studios. The two have collaborated for years, with 101 co-producing Sheridan's hit Paramount Network series Yellowstone and its expanding universe of prequels and spin-offs. The company also backed Sheridan's recent film Those Who Wish Me Dead and the streaming hit 1883. By adding Lauren's screenplays, they are signaling an interest in doubling down on original, prestige-oriented theatrical releases even as the industry shifts toward streaming.

The Sheridan-101 Studios Pipeline

Taylor Sheridan, who rose from actor to one of the most powerful writer-producers in television, has increasingly turned his attention to feature films. His directorial debut Wind River established his signature style - stark landscapes, slow-burn tension, and moral complexity. Since then, his role at 101 Studios has evolved from showrunner to chief content architect, greenlighting projects that fit his vision of gritty, grounded Americana.

The two newly acquired screenplays are believed to be non-series projects, meaning they are intended as standalone films rather than pilots or episodes for an existing franchise. That distinction matters: Sheridan's feature output has been sporadic, and 101 Studios has been deliberate about selecting theatrical properties that can stand apart from their vast television slate. Andrew Lauren's scripts offer exactly that - fresh stories untethered to any established world.

Lauren himself is a noteworthy addition. Before The Brutalist, he produced several indie darlings and worked with directors like Brady Corbet and Joshua Oppenheimer. His taste runs toward formally ambitious, often difficult material. Marrying that sensibility with Sheridan's populist, Western-tinged instincts could result in films that appeal to both critics and mainstream audiences - a sweet spot that 101 Studios has increasingly tried to occupy.

Andrew Lauren's Next Act

For Andrew Lauren, the deal represents a significant step into the mainstream. While The Brutalist cemented his reputation as a producer willing to take risks, the scripts he sold to Sheridan and 101 are reportedly more commercial in tone - though still rooted in the same commitment to character and place. He is expected to produce both films alongside Sheridan and 101 Studios CEO David Glasser.

Glasser, a former Weinstein Company executive who now runs 101, has been instrumental in expanding the company's feature division. Under his leadership, 101 has moved from co-financing partner to outright producing entity, with Sheridan serving as the creative lodestar. The pair have already announced several upcoming films, including a historical drama set during the Texas oil boom and a thriller about modern land rights disputes. The Lauren scripts will join that growing roster.

No release dates have been set, and both scripts are currently in early development. Given Sheridan's crowded schedule - he is simultaneously overseeing multiple TV series and prepping his next directorial effort - it is unclear which project will move into production first. But the acquisition itself is a clear signal: Taylor Sheridan and 101 Studios are not content to dominate television alone. They are building a feature slate designed to be as muscular and enduring as the shows that made their name.

The industry will watch closely to see whether Andrew Lauren's scripts can replicate the cultural impact of The Brutalist or the commercial breakout of the Yellowstone franchise. For now, Hollywood has two more projects from a producer who knows how to build worlds, and a company that knows how to sell them.

Source: Hollywood Reporter