As per reports, Matthew McConaughey is set to make his Yellowstone debut in a spin-off series that is currently in the earliest phases of development, with details surrounding the premise shrouded under a veil of mystery and intrigue. Final negotiations for the actor’s involvement within the narrative may be underway. The Yellowstone Universe spearheaded by Taylor Sheridan and John Linson keeps expanding, with a plethora of spin-offs being actively worked upon and soon to be released.
The renowned cable TV hit has performed magnificently amongst audiences, offering them a modern spin on Western drama tropes—allowing it to be a digestible endeavor even to viewers who may not particularly be fond of the genre. The series, which was originally pitched by Taylor Sheridan as “The Godfather in Montana,” seems to be broadening the horizon of its colossal and continually-evolving storyline.
Fans are excited to see what Matthew McConaughey will soon bring to the table.
Taylor Sheridan’s Opinion On Lead Actor Kevin Costner’s Exit
In a very recent interview with THR, Taylor Sheridan, Hollywood’s uber-inventive talent who is making great strides with his hit neo-Western drama, commented on Kevin Costner‘s departure from the series. Costner, who plays the role of John Dutton III in the Yellowstone universe, is withdrawing from the Sheridan-envisioned initiative, with his focus redirected to his own passion project—a four-movie Western named Horizon.
Various rumors and speculations have led to a lot of discussions behind The Bodyguard alum’s exit from the show, with some alluding to a potential fallout between showrunner Taylor Sheridan and the actor over scheduling disagreements. To put the gossip to rest, the distinguished filmmaker broke his silence on the matter.
Following is what the creator had to say:
“My last conversation with Kevin was that he had this passion project he wanted to direct. He and the network were arguing about when he could be done with Yellowstone. I said, ‘We can certainly work a schedule toward [his preferred exit date],’ which we did.”
Yellowstone is set to conclude with the second half of its fifth season. With Costner’s withdrawal from the series, the show is in requirement of filming a few scenes that aim to bring a fitting closure to his character’s journey within the franchise. Discussions and arrangements for this are currently proceeding.
Sheridan elaborated upon Costner’s involvement and subsequent exit from Yellowstone, having only positive things to say about the actor. To the showrunner, the talent’s embodiment of John Dutton remains impactful; a perspective that will never be swayed. In his own words, “My opinion of Kevin as an actor hasn’t altered.”
He furthermore states that there has never been a complication or a potentially troublesome affair that couldn’t be settled with just a phone call between the two. However, things do get jeopardized when “lawyers get involved.” This leads to a situation that prevents the affected parties to talk it out with each other. This, in due course, devolves into an echo chamber of misinformation and misunderstandings, especially with the press and the public’s entanglement.
Irrespective of the convoluted nature of such affairs, Taylor Sheridan expressed his well-wishes for Kevin Costner, hoping for his passion project/film to be successful. His only regret, which disappoints him greatly, is that the actor’s absence does not alter John Dutton’s character in the slightest, but it does “truncate” it.
Viewers have to say goodbye to the protagonist of Yellowstone a little sooner than expected.
Taylor Sheridan Comments On Matthew McConaughey’s Inclusion
The news of Matthew McConaughey’s involvement within the franchise has left viewers anticipating further details about the spin-off series that is set to feature the esteemed actor’s debut in the Yellowstone universe. With late-stage negotiations taking place for the future follow-up project, Taylor Sheridan, to quench the thirst of the masses, de-mystified the air surrounding the matter.
Following is an excerpt of the statement given by the showrunner:
“He [Matthew McConaughey] seems like a natural fit. We had a few conversations over the years and spitballed a few ideas. Then he started watching Yellowstone and responded to it. He was like, ‘I want to do that.’ And by ‘that’ he meant diving into a raw world clashing up against the modern world. And then I said, ‘Buddy, that we can do.’”
From this explanation, it can be ascertained that Matthew McConaughey‘s involvement in the Yellowstone franchise has been solidified. What remains to be seen is the nature of such an endeavor. When asked whether or not the current group of surviving characters will be seen in the much-discussed follow-up, Sheridan answered, “My idea of a spinoff is the same as my idea of a prequel — read into that what you will.”
This reply seems to be alluding to a stand-alone journey for McConaughey’s character. To quote the showrunner, “There are a lot of places you can tell this story.”
While the Yellowstone franchise embarks on its ambitious venture of expanding its over-arching narrative, with a third, fourth, and fifth spin-off in the making, the future will tell us what exactly the viewers can expect from Matthew McConaughey’s involvement in the series.
For now, fans eagerly await the second half of Yellowstone’s fifth and final season, which is slated for a potential November 2023 release.