Paramount cable network has announced that the popular television western, “Yellowstone,” will end this fall with its fifth season and will be replaced almost immediately by a sequel set to premiere in December on the same network. Although still untitled, the new series will be picking up where “Yellowstone” leaves off in another epic tale, according to David Glasser, CEO of 101 Studios, which produces “Yellowstone” with MTV Entertainment. While the series hasn’t been named, the word “Yellowstone” will be part of the title, which is an important distinction because that wasn’t the case for spinoffs like “1883” or “1923.”
The series, which stars Kevin Costner as Montana rancher John Dutton, was created by Taylor Sheridan, who launched a phenomenon that attracted over 12 million viewers on the night of its debut last November. This was more than any other scripted series last fall and a remarkable feat for a show not on a broadcast network. Costner has said, “We’ve been able to create a show that didn’t start out being popular but did it on its own terms.”
However, there is some mystery surrounding the show’s conclusion and the sequel’s cast. It’s not clear how many episodes the final season will have, and it’s not certain whether Costner will participate following reports that he may want out of the series. Paramount would not comment on that, with a spokesperson saying only, “Kevin Costner is a big part of ‘Yellowstone,’ and we hope that’s the case for a long time to come.”
Furthermore, there have been rumors that actor Matthew McConaughey is signed to star in the sequel. However, Paramount has denied these reports but stated that McConaughey “is a phenomenal talent with whom we’d love to partner.” Despite the uncertainty surrounding the show’s conclusion and the sequel’s cast, fans of “Yellowstone” are eagerly awaiting the final season and the premiere of the new series, which promises to be another epic tale.