The expected seven seasons of Yellowstone are still essentially happening in a very unexpected way. After more than a year of delays and controversy surrounding the highly-anticipated Yellowstone season 5, part 2, creator Taylor Sheridan appears to be moving forward with the conclusion of his celebrated series without the inclusion of Kevin Costner’s protagonist, John Dutton. Reports of behind-the-scenes conflicts between Sheridan and Costner have made the completion of Yellowstone ambiguous.
Although the John Dutton era of Yellowstone is set to end with the original series, Sheridan has several Yellowstone spin-offs in various stages of development, including a Matthew McConaughey-led sequel. Costner has recently expressed his desire to return to the Yellowstone franchise in some capacity, but details about whether he will return for the final six episodes are being kept under wraps. Part of Costner’s decision to exit Yellowstone was to focus on his Horizon movie series, the first of which hits theaters on June 28, 2024.
Cole Hauser as Rip Wheeler, Kelly Reilly as Beth Dutton, and Luke Grimes as Kayce Dutton in Yellowstone.
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The Yellowstone universe will not end after the season 5 finale, and reports about the show’s upcoming replacement continue to prove that.
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Yellowstone’s Returning Cast Means Taylor Sheridan’s 7-Season Plan Is Still Happening
Several original Yellowstone characters are confirmed to appear in future spin-off and sequel series
Luke Grimes as Kaycee, Wes Bentley as Jamie, and Cole Hauser as Rip in Yellowstone.
The return of Kayce, Beth, and Rip in the upcoming Yellowstone series demonstrates that the celebrated series isn’t exactly ending, in a way.
Yellowstone is still officially ending with season 5, but with Kayce, Beth, and Rip expected to appear in a sequel series, plus Jimmy in 6666, Yellowstone seasons 6 and 7 are essentially still happening, just under a different name. The sequel series starring Matthew McConaughey, which has a working title of 2024, will basically continue the Yellowstone original series but will shift the focus away from John Dutton. The return of Kayce, Beth, and Rip in the upcoming Yellowstone series demonstrates that the celebrated series isn’t exactly ending, in a way.
The various spin-off series will also keep the spirit of Yellowstone alive as well. 6666 will take place at the historic Four Sixes Ranch and will follow Jimmy from Yellowstone, who was sent to the ranch by John Dutton and ended up falling in love with the place so much that he decided to stay. Following the success and critical acclaim of Yellowstone’s two prequels series 1883 and 1923, Sheridan has also announced another prequel series titled 1944, which would expand the sprawling western franchise even further and enrich the Dutton family’s American history.
Yellowstone has confirmed that 3 original stars will return for the series’ next spinoff, but the situation underlines a problem for the franchise.
While it’s unclear whether Sheridan will kill off Dutton in the final six episodes of Yellowstone , he could also leave the door open to have Costner guest star in the sequel series 2024.
In a recent exclusive 2024 interview with ET, Costner expressed that he was expecting the series to run for seven seasons with John Dutton still in the spotlight. “I’d like to be able to do it but we haven’t been able to. I thought we were going to make seven [seasons] but right now we’re at five.” While it’s unclear whether Sheridan will kill off Dutton in the final six episodes of Yellowstone, he could also leave the door open to have Costner guest star in the sequel series 2024, which would likely be a monumental moment for the franchise. The questions continue to pile up about Yellowstone’s ending, but answers and episodes are on the horizon.