Fans of the Paramount series Yellowstone might have some difficult news to process, with news that the show will come to an end with season five.
The future of the show has been shrouded in uncertainty for some time, after it was rumoured that the show’s star, Kevin Costner, would not return for a sixth season.
Costner, who plays Yellowstone patriarch and Montana ranch owner John Dutton, has been with the series since its launch in 2018.
According to Deadline sources, Costner’s busy shooting schedule was causing conflicts with the show, as the actor had less availability for filming.
Paramount tried to water down the news, with a statement that read: “We have no news to report. Kevin Costner is a big part of Yellowstone and we hope that’s the case for a long time to come.”
But, with news that the hit show is no longer, fans are wondering if perhaps there was some truth to the rumours.
News of the series’ end also comes just after the announcement of Costner’s divorce with his wife, Christine Costner. The couple had been married for 18 years.
Will There Be A Yellowstone Sequel?
Fans of the series, rejoice. News that Yellowstone would not continue was tempered by the announcement that a sequel will take its place.
In a statement, Chris McCarthy, president and CEO of Showtime/MTV Entertainment Studios, said:
“Yellowstone has been the cornerstone on which we have launched an entire universe of global hits — from 1883 to Tulsa King, 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.”
“The Dutton story continues, picking up where Yellowstone leaves off in another epic tale,” added David Glasser, CEO of 101 Studios, which produces the series. “We are thrilled to bring this new journey to audiences around the world.”
Who Will Star In The Yellowstone Sequel?
Exactly who will star in the new series remains unclear, however previous reports have suggested that Paramount were looking to Matthew McConaughey to lead a new Yellowstone spin-off.
The new series, according to reports, would include many original cast members, so it presumably won’t be the last we see of stars like Kelly Reilly (Beth Dutton), Luke Grimes (Kayce Dutton), Wes Bentley (Jamie Dutton) and Cole Hauser (Rip Wheeler).
Addressing the rumours, Paramount said earlier:
“Thanks to the brilliant mind of Taylor Sheridan, we are always working on franchise expansions of this incredible world he has built. Matthew McConaughey is a phenomenal talent with whom we’d love to partner.”
Yellowstone has been nothing short of a phenomenon for Paramount, with the season one premiere drawing a whopping 12.1 million viewers in the U.S. alone. It’s spawned two prequels—1883 and 1923—with a third one about Texan ranch 6666 reportedly in the works. For Paramount, the US $30 to $35 million (AU $43 to $50 million) each episode costs to make is money well spent.
When Will Season 5, Part 2 Of Yellowstone Be Released?
The mid-season finale set up a possible death match between Beth and Jamie, as each plots the other’s murder to gain control of the Yellowstone ranch. The second half of season five will be released in November.
In Australia, Yellowstone airs on Stan, while the spin-off series is available on Paramount+.
