After five compelling seasons, Paramount’s “Yellowstone” is sure to close the curtain, the network announced on Friday.
“Yellowstone” in its current form will end after the second half of this season airs this fall, according to Deadline. The final six episodes will hit the small screen in November,
Rumors broke out in February that the second half of the final season of “Yellowstone” could be the final series with Kevin Costner as John Dutton. A scheduling conflict with Costner’s multi-part western epic “Horizon” prevented the star from reprising his role as the patriarch of the Montana ranch family.
Entertainment Tonight has revived claims that Costner will not continue past the current season amid alleged differences between the actor and series creator Taylor Sheridan. According to Deadline, it’s unclear if Costner will return for the final six episodes, which is scheduled to begin filming in August.
However, a “Yellowstone” sequel show is already in the works with a planned December release date.
It’s unknown which actors from the top series will join the Yellowstone sequel show. The drama spawned by Costner’s impasse with Sheridan, has disappointed the rest of the cast. Where Kelly Reilly, who plays Beth Dutton, and Cole Hauser, who plays Rip Wheeler, will land is a hot topic of discussion. Insiders expect a new cast that includes some big stars.
What is being negotiated is the possibility of Matthew McConaughey replacing Costner as showrunner. The sequel series will be the first project in the “Yellowstone” universe to directly follow the franchise.
Sheridan premiered two spin-offs from the Dutton family prequel in “1883” and “1923,” with the latter returning for another season. Additionally, “Lawmen: Bass Reeves” was filmed in North Texas and tells the real-life story of the first black Vice Marshal of the United States west of the Mississippi River. David Oyelowo was cast in the lead role.
Unlike the flagship show, the next series “Yellowstone” will air on the Paramount Network and then on the company’s streaming service – Paramount+. Due to a prior agreement with NBCUniversal prior to Paramount+’s existence, the first four seasons and finally the fifth season of “Yellowstone” could only be streamed on Peacock.
Paramount+ owns the broadcasting rights to ‘1883’, ‘1923’ and ‘Lawmen: Bass Reeves’. Other shows created by Sheridan such as “Tulsa King” and “Mayor of Kingstown” are also available on Paramount+.
“‘Yellowstone’ is the cornerstone on which we launched a universe of global hits – from ‘1883’ to ‘Tulsa King’, and I believe our sequel ‘Yellowstone’ will be another big hit, thanks to the stellar performance of Taylor Sheridan, said Chris McCarthy, Showtime/MTV Entertainment Studios President and CEO.
“Yellowstone” first hit the small screen in 2018 and has grown in popularity ever since, including becoming the most watched show of 2022. Sheridan, from Weatherford, chose to host “Yellowstone” season five premiere at Fort Worth at Stockyards last November.