Well, “Yellowstone” fans, the rumors are true: Taylor Sheridan‘s hit show will end at the end of the second half of Season 5, which will premiere on Paramount Network in November. But fans of the series won’t need to wait long for the show’s story to continue. Sheridan already has a sequel to “Yellowstone” on the way, and it’ll premiere on Paramount Network in December, then move later to Paramount+.
This news shouldn’t come as a big surprise to “Yellowstone” fans, as news broke in February that Sheridan planned to end the original series following issues with series lead Kevin Costner on set. What were those arguments about? Allegedly scheduling conflicts, which makes sense given Costner started production on his Western epic “Horizon: An American Saga” last year. But now it’s clear that Costner will leave the show, and the original series will come to an end. So speculate away, “Yellowstone” fans, about how Sheridan writes Costner out of the series. Some easy answers there, considering on the series right now, Costner’s John Dutton is trying to keep his children from killing each other.
But several questions remain here: who will return from the original series for the sequel? Paramount says the cast for the new show “will be announced shortly” in their press release, so expect news on that front soon. In addition, expect confirmation soon about whether or not Matthew McConaughey will indeed lead the new show’s cast, too. But again, no word yet if series regulars like Luke Grimes, Kelly Reilly, Wes Bentley, Cole Hauser, Kelsey Asbille, and Gil Birmingham will return.
Outside of its intended premiere date, all Paramount offers about the new series is that MTV Entertainment Studios and 101 Studios will produce it, like they do “Yellowstone.” Showtime/MTV Entertainment Studios President & CEO Chris McCarthy sounds optimistic about the transition. “”Yellowstone” has been the cornerstone on which we have launched an entire universe of global hits – from “1883” to “Tulsa King,”” he said in a press release, “and I am confident our “Yellowstone” sequel will be another big hit, thanks to the brilliant creative mind of Taylor Sheridan and our incredible casts who bring these shows to life.” Meanwhile, 101 Studios CEO David Glasser said, “The Dutton story continues, picking up where “Yellowstone” leaves off in another epic tale. We are thrilled to bring this new journey to audiences around the world.”
As stated earlier, the “Yellowstone” sequel will eventually move to Paramount+ following its premiere on the Paramount Network in December. That’s good news for Sheridan and Paramount, as right now, the original series streams exclusively on Peacock, with all of the other “Yellowstone” spinoffs on Paramount+. Getting the entire family together under one roof may help Paramount from bleeding more money in their streaming merger with Showtime. Expect casting news about the upcoming “Yellowstone” sequel series very soon. Then again, maybe the current WGA strike may postpone things a bit.