The big question remained this summer: with “Yellowstone” creator Taylor Sheridan and its star Kevin Costner at an impasse about their uncertain future together loomed, what would happen to the final installment of “Yellowstone” season five, which was thought to air sometime this fall? Well, we have our answers now. Paramount Network today announced that “Yellowstone” – essentially TV’s #1 show – will move to November 2024 for its epic final installment. What’s more, Paramount announced two more “Yellowstone” spinoffs are in the works with the working titles of “1944” and “2024.”
READ MORE: Report: Kevin Costner Wanted 2 More ‘Yellowstone’ Seasons, But His Demands Broke Down Talks
No details were given on either, but they seem pretty self-explanatory. “1944” would be a prequel probably centering on John Dutton’s parents and likely featuring John and his siblings as children, and “2024” is likely the mooted series extension/sequel to the current “Yellowstone” series, which will feature much of the same cast, but with the addition of Matthew McConaughey in the lead role.
MTV Entertainment Studios and 101 Studios produce all “Yellowstone” series.
“Within five years, we grew ‘Yellowstone’ from a hit U.S. cable show with five million viewers into a global hit franchise with over 100 million fans around the world and multiple extensions – and, we’re just getting started,” Chris McCarthy, President/CEO, Showtime & MTV Entertainment Studios said in a statement. “On the heels of ‘1883’ and ‘1923’s success, our new planned spinoffs, ‘1944’ and ‘2024,’ will take audiences on a thrilling, new, and unexpected journey with the complex and compelling storytelling that has become a hallmark of the franchise and has helped turn it into a worldwide cultural phenomenon—  thanks to the creative mastermind of Taylor Sheridan.”
“The global success of Yellowstone continues to thrill and excite us at 101 Studios and Bosque Ranch. This has been such an exhilarating ride with our partners at MTV Entertainment Studios, and we can’t wait to bring ‘1944’ and ‘2024’ to audiences everywhere,” said David Glasser, CEO of 101 Studios.
Originally slated to premiere later this year, “Yellowstone” production schedules shifted due to the dual strikes, according to Paramount. That’s undoubtedly true. However, part of the subtext here is what happened between Sheridan and Costner earlier this year.
As you surely know by now, Sheridan and Costner, the series creator and star, started butting heads this year when Costner’s demands began vexing the cast and crew. The short version, Costner wanted more time away from production so he could find more time to shoot an epic two-part Western “Horizon,” which opens in theaters next summer via Warner Bros.
Reports also cited Costner generally wanting to work fewer hours than everyone else and his tricky schedule making a TV show hard to shoot. Sheridan eventually threw up his hands and announced through the trades that “Yellowstone” was ending. The intention was to kill off Costner’s John Dutton patriarch character and launch a new show instead with Matthew McConaughey in the lead. While there were hopes that cooler heads would prevail and the show would continue, an update in the summer made it clear that Sheridan and Costner could not come to terms on much and the writer/director would go forward with his plan.
Given today’s announcement, that plan is essentially official. While it’s not been officially said that Dutton’s character is getting killed off, today’s announcement indicates as much as it speaks to the “final” Yellowstone” chapter and the launch of two new shows (and maybe it’s not all over as the famously litigious Kevin Costner has already threatened to sue if he was cut from the show).
In case you’re living under a rock, “Yellowstone” chronicles the Dutton family, who controls the largest contiguous cattle ranch in the United States. Amid shifting alliances, unsolved murders, open wounds, and hard-earned respect—the ranch is in constant conflict with those it borders— an expanding town, an Indian reservation, and vicious business rivalries.
“Yellowstone” is co-created by Oscar-nominated screenwriter Taylor Sheridan (“Wind River,” “Hell or High Water” and “Sicario.”) & John Linson. Executive producers include John Linson, Art Linson, Taylor Sheridan, Kevin Costner, David C. Glasser, Bob Yari, Stephen Kay, and Christina Voros.