The “Yellowstone” universe looks set to expand again. In a June 2023 profile in The Hollywood Reporter, Taylor Sheridan spoke about an upcoming spin-off series he’s developing that may star Matthew McConaughey. The idea is still in the early stages, but the prolific showrunner says that he and McConaughey have had several conversations about working together over the years, and the actor is a perfect fit for the project he has in mind. Furthermore, McConaughey is supposedly interested, as he’s a fan of “Yellowstone.”
Sheridan said of the upcoming potential collaboration with McConaughey, “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.'”
According to the report, the new show might have “Yellowstone” in the title, but Sheridan didn’t confirm if that’s the case. Earlier this year, other reports indicated that the McConaughey-led spin-off series was being developed under the working title “2024,” suggesting that it will be a contemporary sequel to “Yellowstone.”
Whether that’s the plan remains to be seen, though, and Sheridan was ambiguous about the title and the storyline’s timeline in his Hollywood Reporter interview. “My idea of a spinoff is the same as my idea of a prequel — read into that what you will,” he teased. This may indicate that similar to the prequel series “1883” and “1923,” the show will be set within the “Yellowstone” universe, but focus on a brand new cast of characters.
The new Yellowstone series will stay true to the franchise’s roots
“Yellowstone” will end after Season 5, but Taylor Sheridan has yet to confirm if the new spin-off will include any remaining members of the Dutton family. As it stands, it’s also still unknown if Matthew McConaughey has officially signed up to be part of Taylor Sheridan’s latest neo-Western drama, let alone any other actors. However, the showrunner has assured fans that the new series will complement the other shows in the franchise, especially from a thematic perspective.
“There are lots of places where a way of life that existed for 150 years is slamming against a new way of life, but the challenges are completely different,” he told The Hollywood Reporter. “There are a lot of places you can tell this story.” This is more evidence that the show will revolve around a new set of characters who will seemingly struggle to adjust to the trials and tribulations of a changing world in a similar way to the Duttons.
These aren’t the only future “Yellowstone” universe shows that fans can expect to see, either. Another prequel series called “1944” is currently in development, which will seemingly be set against the backdrop of World War II. Meanwhile, “6666” will offer a more modern take on cowboy life, but details about this one are also vague at best for the time being.