Yellowstone Season 6 - Will It Ever Happen?

Since 2018, the cowboy-themed neo-Western "Yellowstone" has captivated audiences everywhere. After a rocky critical start, the series gained an immensely loyal fan following as subsequent seasons built on the foundation series creator Taylor Sheridan carefully laid. Originally meant to be a feature film in the same vein as "The Godfather"(just trading the mafia in for Montana ranchers), the project developed into a long-form television series that, after many attempts to get it made, was finally picked up by the Paramount Network.

Sheridan has built an entire "Yellowstone" television empire — with the main show as Paramount Network's flagship series — that at this point would rival John Dutton's (Kevin Costner). But despite the show's major success, off-screen developments have changed the entire trajectory of the series and its greater body of work. Having become a massive hit for Paramount, it's hard to believe that the network would let its biggest cash cow ride off into the sunset. After all, there are plenty more Dutton-themed stories to tell, and even some that don't center on the uber-violent and intense ranch family.

Right now, the big question on everyone's minds is, after Season 5 Part 2 airs, will there be another season of "Yellowstone?" Believe it or not, there are real answers out there, but they might not be to everyone's fancy. Still, here's hoping that the Dutton clan will make the most of what they have while they've still got it.

From the moment that Season 5 was announced as an extended two-part season, folks got worried that "Yellowstone" might be coming to an end. The first batch of episodes began airing in late 2022 and ran on the Paramount Network consistently until the New Year. With eight episodes already under its cowboy-sized belt buckle (just one episode shy of Season 1's entire catalog, mind you), "Yellowstone" went on hiatus while Taylor Sheridan and his crew went off to tackle the second half of the season. 

That's when things started getting complicated. The series was supposed to wrap up in 2023, but due to the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes, the show was put on hold. Many months later, we finally got word that the last half of Season 5 would begin airing on November 10, 2024. The show will play out for six more episodes before the season comes to a close ... and sadly, the series itself. Yep, unfortunately, it appears that Season 5 will be the last season of "Yellowstone," and that probably has a whole lot to do with its main star saddling up and riding off into the sunset.

After the first part of Season 5 aired, the fate of "Yellowstone" soon came into question. Why? Because Kevin Costner wanted to step away from the show, reportedly because Season 5 was split into two chunks, which was going to interfere with his big plans. What were those plans, you ask? Filming his own Western epic — "Horizon: An American Saga." 

The film series, set both before and after the American Civil War, will (hopefully) span four installments, with the first having already hit theaters in June 2024. "My last conversation with Kevin was that he had this passion project he wanted to direct," Sheridan explained to The Hollywood Reporter a year earlier. "He and the network were arguing about when he could be done with 'Yellowstone.'" Sheridan went on to explain that, though he's saddened to see Costner go, his departure doesn't change the way he wanted John Dutton's story to end, even if he isn't happy about it. "It truncates the closure of his character," he said. "It doesn't alter it, but it truncates it."

However, there was a brief moment in April 2024 where Costner expressed interest in returning as John Dutton, but evidently, that didn't pan out. Around the time the first "Horizon" hit theaters, the legendary actor released a video on Instagram, saying, "I just realized that I'm not going to be able to continue ['Yellowstone'] Season 5 B or into the future. It was something that really changed me, I loved it, and I know you loved it, and I just wanted to let you know I won't be returning, and I love the relationship we've been able to develop, and I'll see you at the movies."

On the special features for the "Yellowstone" Season 5 Part 1 Blu-Ray, released in May 2023, Beth actor Kelly Reilly elaborated on how she thought the series might play out in the end, saying, "Though it will probably be beautiful and epic, I'm not sure it will be happy."

However, the actors themselves might be okay with the show wrapping up. For example, take Jamie actor Wes Bentley. "I will miss it, but I will also celebrate it being over," he related to The Hollywood Reporter. "[The show is] peaking and ending at the same time," Bentley continued. "I've always been prepared for some version of the show ending or I'm out of it, or Kevin decides to go do other things and he's out. You just know the business and always expect the craziest thing to happen. And often, it does." 

But as far as how the show will actually end, series star Luke Grimes doesn't have a clue. Appearing on "The Tonight Show," Grimes says he doesn't think creator Taylor Sheridan wants him to know. Rather, he's happy to experience Kayce Dutton's life just like his own: blind. "Just, I don't know, it might affect the way you do something, or play something, and it's kind of fun to experience it this way anyway."

While the cast doesn't have a clue how the series might play out, "Yellowstone" creator Taylor Sheridan obviously does. The man writes nearly every episode himself, and even when "Yellowstone" briefly employed a writers' room during its sophomore season, his vision always won out in the end. Of course, now that his lead actor is gone, that does throw a monkey wrench into the works. But speaking with The Hollywood Reporter, Sheridan has promised that whatever happens to John Dutton, it won't feel spiteful or out of left field.

"I don't do f***-you car crashes," Sheridan said, meaning he wouldn't kill off John Dutton in some sort of angry way just to move things along. However, the character's absence will be dealt with somehow, with the creator saying, "Whether [Dutton's fate] inflates [Costner's] ego or insults is collateral damage that I don't factor in with regard to storytelling." And there is a possibility that exit might involve some sort of death — in fact, a whole lot of people might end up dying. Talking to Entertainment Tonight in September 2022, Sheridan ominously said, "If you look at everyone as a chess piece, in Season 5 it is impossible to keep playing the game without taking pieces off the board."

Despite the death that looms on the horizon, we're still feeling positive. "This 'Yellowstone' chapter is closing sooner than we all wanted," Paramount's Media Network CEO Chris McCarthy noted, "but we feel good with where it's going to end." If the series creator feels good about it and the head of the studio does too, then we shouldn't be worried about whatever the end of "Yellowstone" brings, even if a sixth season isn't on the table.

Although it doesn't look like a traditional Season 6 will happen, another "Yellowstone" series is in the works. It was initially reported that Matthew McConaughey of "True Detective" fame would lead the spinoff series, originally titled "Yellowstone 2024." There were also rumors that — possible spoilers to follow — Cole Hauser, Kelly Reilly, and Luke Grimes would reprise their beloved "Yellowstone" roles in the series.

However, there have been a few changes since then. The series is now titled "The Madison," and McConaughey isn't involved at all. Instead, the lead will be played by the legendary Michelle Pfeiffer, who stole the show in movies such as "Batman Returns" and "The Witches of Eastwick." Deadline has also reported that — while not yet official — Kurt Russell of "Tombstone" and Patrick J. Adams of "Suits" will also star.

So what will "The Madison" be about? The official logline reads that "the series is a heartfelt study of grief and human connection following a New York City family in the Madison River valley of central Montana." TVLine dug a bit deeper into the plot, revealing that the series will revolve around a powerful New York woman named Stacy Clyburn who takes her family to Montana after her husband and brother-in-law are killed in a plane crash. And since this takes place in the "Yellowstone" universe during the modern day, we're assuming we'll see a few Duttons pop up here and there ... assuming they don't die in Season 5.

With the success of "Yellowstone," Taylor Sheridan opened the floodgates to a larger Western franchise that went back as far as the Last Best Place itself (the institution, not the land). Starting with "1883," Sheridan's self-described 10-hour movie, the "Yellowstone" franchise took a deep and dark look back at those who settled in Montana more than 140 years ago. A massive hit, the mini-series highlighted the dangers of westward expansion as well as the authentic nature of what the journey to Oregon looked like.

As a companion piece set 40 years later, Sheridan's "1923" — which stars Harrison Ford and Helen Mirren — began its journey at the end of 2022 but will expand beyond just a single season. While Sheridan always envisioned "1883" as a one-and-done story, for "1923," he needed some more time. Even if more seasons of "Yellowstone" never see the light of day, there's no denying that Sheridan's commitment to the franchise shines through these two prequel stories.

As if the "Yellowstone" franchise didn't keep Taylor Sheridan busy enough, the cowboy-turned-actor-turned-filmmaker inked an exclusive deal with Paramount, one that has resulted in a Sheridan TV empire. Alongside "Yellowstone," there are shows like "Tulsa King," which stars Sylvester Stallone as a mob enforcer sent to Oklahoma. "Tulsa King" performed well enough during its first season to warrant an immediate green light for a second, with the potential for spin-offs in the future. There's also the "Lawmen" series, with the first series focusing on legendary marshal Bass Reeves, played by David Oyelowo, with future seasons focusing on different law enforcement officers.

In 2021, Sheridan's first-ever pilot script was finally developed into the hit series "Mayor of Kingstown," which starred Jeremy Renner in the titular role. Centered on a small Michigan prison town, the series dives deep into the prison system and a local economy's reliance on the criminals that inhabit it. Sheridan's Middle East thriller "Special Ops: Lioness" also made waves, boasting talents like Zoe Saldaña, Laysla De Oliveira, Nicole Kidman, and Morgan Freeman. But, showing his love for people he's worked with before, "Yellowstone" universe staples Dave Annable, LaMonica Garrett, and James Jordan are also featured in prominent roles. And let's not forget about the upcoming "Land Man," which will star Billy Bob Thornton as the face of a Texas oil company. Sheridan is, indeed, a busy, busy guy. 

For those looking to binge Taylor Sheridan's neo-Western franchise in full, you're a bit out of luck. Jumping the gun on the streaming game, the Paramount Network made an exclusive deal with the Peacock streaming service, allowing them the full streaming rights for every season of "Yellowstone." As it stands now, Peacock is the only place to watch the Costner-led flagship series. Well, unless you catch it live on the Paramount Network, that is (and there's almost always a "Yellowstone" marathon at the ready).

But there's good news for fans of the greater "Yellowstone" universe. Paramount didn't make the same mistake twice. The prequel shows, the miniseries "1883" and the first season of "1923," can be streamed exclusively on Paramount+, alongside Sheridan's nearly complete catalog of other television projects such as "Lawmen: Bass Reeves," "Tulsa King," and "Mayor of Kingstown." Even the Sheridan-produced reality TV series "The Last Cowboy" can be streamed on Paramount's service.