Not least because the main series celebrated its local premiere on niche pay TV channel Sony AXN, “Yellowstone” remains under our radar. In its country of origin, however, there is hardly a series that can currently boast such a success story as the American neo-western series from the busy “Wind River” creator Taylor Sheridan (“Tulsa King”, “Mayor Of Kingstown”) . Started in 2018 with veteran star Kevin Costner at the top of the cast, “Yellowstone” has already spawned the two prequel series “1883” and “1923”. Three (!) spin-offs have already been announced.
“Yellowstone” has become a mega franchise in a very short time, enjoying great popularity abroad and attracting more and more stars (in “1923”, which will finally launch in Germany on May 27, 2023 on the streaming service Paramount+ , the high-profile star of Harrison Ford and Helen Mirren).
The origins of the whole are now facing a major upheaval: “Yellowstone” itself has now completed four and a half seasons, but now, despite its continued success, one thing is certain: The current fifth season of “Yellowstone” will also be the last, as the main protagonist Kevin Costner turns its back on the series hit. The American trade journals report this unanimously.
Kevin Costner is directing a new western epic
What’s official now was already clear: Kevin Costner’s “Yellowstone” exit was in the room a few months ago. The Hollywood veteran has increasingly clashed with series creator Taylor Sheridan over the timing and scope of his filming. The reason: Kevin Costner prefers to devote himself to his own new mammoth project that takes up most of his time.
More than 30 years after his seven-time Oscar-winning “Dances With Wolves” and 20 years after his last directorial work “Open Range”, he presents another grand Western epic as director, co-writer and protagonist with “Horizon”. the legs, which has to tell a 15-year story about the settlement in the American West and the American Civil War in four (!) films.
It’s still unclear if Costner will still be available for the final “Yellowstone” episodes or if his character of ranch patriarch John Dutton will be written out before the end of the series. There are six more episodes of the currently paused fifth season, which has been split into two parts and is expected to premiere in November 2023 (although the whole thing could be delayed again due to the current Hollywood writers’ strike, though it’s unclear). , to what extent the scripts are still being worked on).
“Yellowstone” Sequel Series Coming – With Matthew McConaughey?
While the end of Yellowstone has now been made official in the middle of Season 5, no matter how the season ends, fans won’t be left hanging in the air. Because even after the end and without Kevin Costner, the story of the Dutton family and their troubled ranch in Montana continues, just in a slightly different form. As was the case with initial speculation about Costner’s departure, there will actually be a “Yellowstone” sequel serieswhich will replace the month after the end of the previous series and will also be led by a prominent face.
So noisy still an Oscar winner Matthew McMcConaughey in talks for the lead role. In addition, many actors of “Yellowstone” should also be present, although it is not yet known exactly who will be transferred from the ensemble cast around Luke Grimes, Kelly Reilly, Wes Bentley and Cole Hauser to the new series.
So, if you will, “Yellowstone” won’t be canceled at all, just remodeled a bit with a new protagonist. However, those responsible for the project see the whole as a new series, which will also receive a new, previously unknown title. In the coming weeks and months, the whole should take further shape.