The Taylor Sheridan universe (aka “the Sheridan-verse”) has become an unprecedented force in the television space, with the hit neo-Western drama Yellowstone at its core. The flagship show, following the Dutton family’s fight to maintain their Montana ranch, launched in 2018 and became the foundation of a sprawling, multi-series franchise that consistently pulls in massive viewership numbers and strong audience acclaim for Paramount+ and Paramount Network. It is no surprise that other streamers and networks are on the lookout for shows that might carry the same potential, mimicking the tone and genre of the highly successful empire. Prime Video may have just found its own version with the Taylor Sheridan-esque series Calamities. As reported by Variety, Prime Video has given a straight-to-series order to Texas-set crime thriller Calamities, from showrunner, writer, and director David Weil, who is known for creating high-profile genre and drama series like Hunters and Citadel. He also executive produces alongside Natalie Laine Williams through their Please Enjoy production company, with Ryan Schwartz serving as co-executive producer. Glen Powell and Dan Cohen are also attached to executive produce under their Barnstorm banner, which is undergoing rapid expansion, having secured several high-profile projects, including a Texas Chainsaw Massacre offshoot for A24, an action sci-fi thriller for Amazon, and a crocodile creature feature for Lionsgate – to name but a few.

Glen Powell as LT Jake “Hangman” Seresin in Top Gun: MaverickParamount Pictures

Calamities landed a straight-to-series order, meaning it bypassed the pilot stage to go directly into production. It signifies high confidence in the concept, which appears to share some DNA with Sheridan’s expansive universe, including a Texas frontier setting, character-rich drama, and modern neo-Western themes. According to the logline (below), the series from Amazon MGM Studios will pit law enforcement officers against morally grey outlaws after a drug deal goes wrong and triggers a chain reaction of chaos.
“After a drug deal explodes into violence, a quiet border town is thrust into a deadly collision course between a small-town sheriff looking for answers from her past, a sociopathic hit woman, an overly eager FBI agent, and a ruthless sect of the cartel.”
The plot description for Calamities outlines at least four key roles that need to be filled, but there is no word yet on who will be playing each character. It is also unclear whether Powell himself will star in the project, or whether he will stay strictly behind-the-scenes as an executive producer on this one. However, given his Texas roots and current star power, his presence could bolster the cast and bring even more attention to the series, described by Amazon’s head of global television Peter Friedlander as a fast-paced thriller “that doesn’t blink.”

“Calamities is the unique character-rich thriller that doesn’t blink. David Weil has crafted a story that knocks the wind out of you, and we’re beyond excited to support him, Natalie, Glen, and Dan in bringing it to life on Prime.”