Yellowstone, as we know it, is coming to an end.
The popular Paramount Network series starring Kevin Costner as John Dutton, the patriarch of Montana’s most notorious ranching family, will come to its conclusion at the end of Season 5, which was much shorter than anyone expected.
Why? Because the show was pretty much in the prime of its life as one of the most watched shows on television. Not to mention a whole universe of shows like 1883, and 1923, that tell other chapters of the Dutton story.
However, thanks to a number of rumors, reports, confirmations from Paramount, and now a detailed sit-down with Hollywood Reporter and series creator Taylor Sheridan, it’s clear that Kevin Costner’s priorities have quickly changed from Yellowstone to his own western project, Horizon, which he wrote, produced, and will direct and star in.
Long story short… the show’s leading actor doesn’t really want to do it anymore.
And with the second half of Season 5 still to go, Taylor has to work his magic to wrap up the series, before another new spinoff series starring Matthew McConaughey can take shape.
And let’s be honest, John Dutton was never gonna see the end of this show (Taylor even confirms that), but now the timeline has been bumped up.
However, there may be good news… the second half of Season 5 could be extended past the 6 episodes we were initially promised. Yellowstone Season 5 was supposed to be 14 episodes, but according to Sheridan, it could as many as 18… or even more.
Sheridan says that the studio will give him whatever he needs to tell the story:
“If I think it takes 10 episodes to wrap it up, they’ll give me 10. It’ll be as long as it needs to be.”
And Sheridan refuses to compromise:
“I spent the first 37 years of my life compromising. When I quit acting, I decided that I am going to tell my stories my way, period. If you don’t want me to tell them, fine.
Give them back and I’ll find someone who does… or I won’t, and then I’ll read them in some freaking dinner theater. But I won’t compromise. There is no compromising.”
The second half was originally scheduled to premiere in the fall, however due to the writer’s strike (which Sheridan maintains he supports, although he doesn’t really use many other writers), it seems unlikely that it’ll be on time.
At this point, just call it Season 6, make it go another 10 episodes, and fans won’t feel like they got cheated out of a proper ending.
The Matthew McConaughey spinoff is supposed to “continue the story” and is even rumored to feature some of the original Yellowstone cast, however, that might not be the case. In fact, Taylor Sheridan seems to imply quite the opposite.
“My idea of a spinoff is the same as my idea of a prequel… read into that what you will.”
I’m reading new story, new cast, new era Mr. Sheridan…
Fans were clamoring for a prequel starring Josh Lucas as a “young John Dutton,” but could McConaughey take on that role? I suppose it’s possible, and they have confirmed that a prequel called 1944 is in the early stages of production.
Either way, it’s clearly the end of an era in the Yellowstone universe, although Sheridan maintains there is no hard feelings:
“My opinion of Kevin as an actor hasn’t altered.
His creation of John Dutton is symbolic and powerful … and I’ve never had an issue with Kevin that he and I couldn’t work out on the phone. But once lawyers get involved, then people don’t get to talk to each other and start saying things that aren’t true and attempt to shift blame based on how the press or public seem to be reacting.
He took a lot of this on the chin and I don’t know that anyone deserves it. His movie seems to be a great priority to him and he wants to shift focus. I sure hope it’s worth it… and that it’s a good one.”
Only time will tell…
Stay tuned.
