It’s been a long while since Yellowstone fans got the big news that their favorite fictional universe would be expanding. First, we found out that the show would be getting a prequel to follow the Dutton family’s ancestors before they settled in Montana—the show that ultimately became 1883—followed by the news that there was also a spin-off in the works centered on the 6666 (pronounced “four sixes”) ranch in Texas. While 1883 materialized on Paramount+ in 2021 as a must-watch hit, and subsequently spawned a second prequel, 1923, there’s been relatively little information on the spin-off front.
In November 2022, ahead of Yellowstone’s season five premiere, a profile on Taylor Sheridan finally offered some hope for those eager to see more of the Texas ranch, revealing in The Atlantic that the show was set to premiere some time in 2023.Now, it appears that may no longer be the case. In a June 2023 interview with THR, Sheridan—who now owns the 270,000 acre ranch where the show is set—apparently backtracked about the series, saying “That, for a number of reasons, needs a unique level of special care because this is a real place with real families working here. You have to respect the lineage. I’ve told [the studio] to be patient.”
The news will no doubt come as a disappointment to fans who were hopeful to see some of Yellowstone’s fan-favorite characters take up spots on the spin-off after the flagship show ends its run later this year. The possibility appeared to be set up in the seventh episode of Yellowstone season 5, “The Dream Is Not Me”, when John Dutton and his ranching team determined they needed to move half of their herd for up to a year. Ultimately, Rip, Teeter, Ryan, Walker, and Jake were chosen to go live with the herd, on land leased from the 6666 ranch. Beth, in turn, decided to follow her husband, Rip, saying she couldn’t be without him for a year.
It was a welcome sign for those who love Jimmy, the ranch hand who got his start on Yellowstone before moving to the 6666 ranch during season four. Previously, Jefferson White, who plays Jimmy, had been confirmed to return for Yellowstone’s fifth season, while Kathryn Kelly, who plays his fiancee Emily, was upped to a series regular, yet neither of the characters appeared in the first half of the season. With this latest plot turn, it sounded as though Yellowstone might spend some significant time on the 6666 ranch in the latter half of the fifth season—possibly as a way to set up the eventual premiere of the spin-off. Now, when or even if the show will materialize remains to be seen.
Here’s what we know so far about the spin-off:
What’s 6666 about?
First announced back in February 2021, the new show, operating under the working title 6666, sounds poised to bring the same modern western-flavored drama as Yellowstone in an entirely new setting.
Below, read the full synopsis released when the show was announced:
Founded when Comanches still ruled West Texas, no ranch in America is more steeped in the history of the West than the 6666. Still operating as it did two centuries before, and encompassing an entire county, the 6666 is where the rule of law and the laws of nature merge in a place where the most dangerous thing one does is the next thing… The 6666 is synonymous with the merciless endeavor to raise the finest horses and livestock in the world, and ultimately where world class cowboys are born and made. The series will be executive produced by Sheridan, John Linson, Art Linson, David Glasser, Ron Burkle and Bob Yari.
Who’s in it?
Thus far, no casting announcements have been made for the new show, but Yellowstone has given some fans hope for a few familiar faces. Yellowstone ranch hand Jimmy was sent to the 6666 to work for most of the show’s fourth outing, introducing the new ranch and a few select characters who could certainly make a return in the spin-off. Most notably, Jimmy himself, as well as his new fiancee Emily, seem likely possibilities for roles on the new show, but neither actor Jefferson White, who plays Jimmy, nor Kathryn Kelly, who plays Emily, have confirmed anything, leaving the chances of them appearing on 6666 purely speculative.
“I wish I knew,” White told Looper about his future in the Yellowstone universe. “I think you won’t be surprised to hear that they don’t tell me anything. It’s mostly my job just to try to hold on to the bucking bronco at any given moment. Any time I try to guess what Taylor’s going to do, what he actually does is much better, and more surprising, and cooler, and more interesting than what I would’ve guessed. So, at this point, I’ve learned to just kind of try to hold on.”
With the news that Yellowstone characters like Rip, Beth, Teeter, Walker, and Ryan will likely be spending some time on the 6666 ranch, it’s also possible that we could see one or more of them joining the eventual cast for the new show, but nothing has been confirmed yet.
When does it come out?
While The Atlantic revealed that the show is expected to come out in 2023, the latest word from Taylor Sheridan suggests the show is now on hold.
We will update this post as soon as new information on 6666 becomes available.