When Yellowstone aired its midseason finale again in January 2023, the longer term was trying ominous for the Dutton household on the fifth season of the Paramount Community mega-hit sequence. For a refresher, Jamie Dutton (Wes Bentley) had simply thrown down the gauntlet towards his sister Beth Dutton (Kelly Reilly) and father John Dutton (Kevin Costner) in a transfer that will usher in an all-out struggle between the embittered members of the family. Will Jamie kill Beth? Or will John kill Jamie first? These had been the high-stakes questions sitting with viewers.
Then, the destiny of TV’s largest present modified course.
Behind the scenes, a scheduling dispute with Yellowstone star and patriarch Costner ushered in a months-long manufacturing delay on the second half of season 5. The forged and crew had been planning to renew filming in March 2023 with an introduced summer season premiere date, however these dates got here and went. Not till early Might of 2023 would the community announce that Yellowstone was going again into manufacturing, however that the remaining episodes, which had been set for a November 2023 debut, would mark an abrupt ending to the beloved neo-Western saga and flagship sequence. There have been, nonetheless, new plans to proceed the Dutton dynasty (which already counts spinoffs 1923 and 1883 in its steady) with a Yellowstone sequel sequence, extensively reported to star Matthew McConaughey and debut in December 2023.
The announcement, nonetheless, got here simply days after the Might 2 writers strike, which might in the end usher within the July 13 SAG-AFTRA strike; the uncommon 2023 double strike successfully shutting down Hollywood productions and grinding U.S.-produced sequence — together with Yellowstone — to a halt.
The standing of the ultimate episodes of Yellowstone had been then locked within the barn for months — till the flagship sequence was given a November 2024 premiere date send-off following the decision of the strikes. Under, The Hollywood Reporter is retaining observe of every thing that develops in regards to the sequence, co-created by Yellowstone-verse boss Taylor Sheridan, because it rides off into the evening.
When Will the Ultimate Episodes Air?
When this all started, we initially predicted: “Almost certainly, someday in 2024.” And, we had been proper. On Nov. 2, Paramount Community went on to announce that the second half of the ultimate season will air in November 2024.
Manufacturing had been set to renew in late spring 2024 and, on Might 20, the community introduced that manufacturing has lastly begun in Montana on the ultimate episodes.
Earlier than two of Hollywood’s largest guilds, WGA and SAG-AFTRA, discovered themselves in a standoff with the studios, Yellowstone had not but begun manufacturing. The scripts from creator Sheridan, who writes your entire sequence, weren’t but full. (April to October is once they sometimes shoot, with snowy Montana winters complicating filming on the closely outside sequence.) Sheridan started engaged on the scripts as soon as the writers strike resolved in September 2023.
Now, scripts are full and filming is underway.
The place Does the Solid Stand?
Months earlier than the writers strike was known as, reviews of Costner eager to exit the sequence despatched a jolt by the Yellowstone-verse. How may TV’s largest hit proceed with out its Oscar-winning lead?
In late March, president and CEO of Showtime/MTV Leisure Studios Chris McCarthy, spoke to these fears when he advised The Hollywood Reporter that Yellowstone “wouldn’t be what it’s at the moment with out Kevin and we hope that that stays for a very long time to come back.” Flash ahead to Might of 2023, when viewers had been advised that Costner could be staying on the sequence however that the sequence is ending. However the still-looming query remained: In what capability will viewers see John Dutton? (McCarthy later advised THR: “This Yellowstone chapter is closing prior to all of us needed, however we really feel good with the place it’s going to finish.”)
In late June, Sheridan sat down with THR for a uncommon cowl story the place he opened up in regards to the scheduling conflict, shedding mild on the supply of the delay: Costner needed to deal with his personal Western epic, a four-movie ardour undertaking titled Horizon that he’s co-writing, directing and starring in (and was simply introduced to be premiering at 2024 Cannes in Might). “He and the community had been arguing about when he could possibly be achieved with Yellowstone. I stated, ‘We are able to definitely work a schedule towards [his preferred exit date],’ which we did,” stated the prolific TV hitmaker. “However as soon as attorneys get entangled, then folks don’t get to speak to one another and begin saying issues that aren’t true and try to shift blame based mostly on how the press or public appear to be reacting. He took quite a lot of this on the chin and I don’t know that anybody deserves it. His film appears to be a terrific precedence to him and he needs to shift focus. I certain hope [the movie is] price it — and that it’s a great one.”
Cowl story author James Hibberd reported that there have been ongoing discussions to attempt to persuade Costner to movie just a few scenes to wrap his character. Sheridan hinted that John Dutton was by no means going to be round for the very finish of the present in his authentic script. Nonetheless, the creator admitted, “I’m dissatisfied. It truncates the closure of his character. It doesn’t alter it, but it surely truncates it.”
In early September throughout a divorce listening to from spouse Christine Baumgartner, Costner went on the report for the primary time in regards to the dispute, saying he may take the present to court docket. Per reviews, Costner claimed he’s owed $12 million for the second half of season 5 after Paramount “walked away” from negotiations. “We tried to barter, they provided me much less cash than earlier seasons [and] there have been points with the artistic,” he stated.
As for whether or not or not that meant Sheridan would write Costner completely off the sequence — and ship him an off-camera destiny — media e-newsletter Puck reported that Sheridan did simply that and wrote the post-strike again half of season 5 with out John Dutton. Now, in April 2024, Costner has made his first public feedback on his Yellowstone destiny, implying that there’s nonetheless an opportunity Sheridan may revisit the script.
“I’d like to have the ability to do it however we haven’t been in a position to … I assumed I used to be going to make seven [seasons] however proper now we’re at 5. So the way it works out — I hope it does — however they’ve acquired quite a lot of completely different reveals happening. Possibly it’ll. Possibly this can circle again to me. If it does and I really feel actually snug with [it], I’d like to do it,” he advised Leisure Tonight whereas at CinemaCon selling Horizon: An American Saga.
He added, “[Dutton] must be proactive in what occurs and I’ve type of had my very own fantasy how [the character’s final arc] may be. However that’s Taylor’s factor. I stated as a lot to him some time again. I had ideas the way it may occur, however we simply must see.”
However, if Costner isn’t concerned at this stage, with scripts full and filming underway, it’s beginning to appear lower than doubtless that he will probably be.
When talking to THR‘s Awards Chatter podcast the day earlier than Paramount Community introduced that filming was underway, Costner stated that, from his perspective, the scripts for the second-half of season 5 weren’t prepared in time earlier than having to begin on his ardour undertaking movie, Horizon, which made its debut on the Cannes Movie Pageant. “I had 400 folks ready for me and my very own cash there. And so, a sequence that I gave all my consideration to for 5 seasons, I nonetheless was ready to do this. However I couldn’t break my phrase with actors that I made guarantees with, and a promise I made to myself. It doesn’t matter how a lot cash you throw at me,” he stated. He stated he would certainly return to Yellowstone, however there’s nonetheless no phrase on Costner’s participation.
The official forged, in the meantime, additionally has but to be introduced.
How Many Episodes Will There Be?
An official episode depend has but to be revealed by the community. Sheridan, who was pencils down in help of the WGA’s efforts when talking to THR for the quilt story, urged at the moment that he may make greater than the beforehand reported six last episodes. “If I feel it takes 10 episodes to wrap it up, they’ll give me 10,” Sheridan says. “It’ll be so long as it must be.”
What Will the Ultimate Run Be With out (or With Much less) John Dutton?
Yellowstone has constructed a sprawling forged of characters whom viewers have come to know and root for throughout the present’s 5 seasons. And whereas the largest storyline when the present left off was certainly centered across the battle between Beth and Jamie — with Montana Gov. John Dutton squarely placing himself on Beth’s facet — the feud definitely arrange the likelihood that John could possibly be shortly taken to the “prepare station” (the Dutton code time period for the place they bury the our bodies of their enemies).
When talking in June after the writers strike however forward of the actors strike, Bentley advised THR he hadn’t talked to Costner and hadn’t but seen any scripts, however he had given a lot thought to how the the destiny of the characters may play out.
“Does Jamie go down with John? Does John go down due to Jamie? Does Jamie have a hand in it in any respect, or does it end up Jamie tries to guard him? There are such a lot of potential methods he offers with John’s ending,” he stated. “We’re at some extent the place I feel every thing is feasible with the Duttons. It’s so scorching and flamable proper now that it may blow all of them up collectively. I feel the potential for that’s actual. However I additionally know that I’m at all times shocked by Taylor and the turns and instructions. With the strain and hazard proper now, it doubtlessly could possibly be both they’re all gone, or considered one of them survives.”
John’s departure would additionally depart room to focus on extra of the ensemble of characters, which incorporates Kayce (Luke Grimes) and Monica Dutton (Kelsey Asbille), Chief Thomas Rainwater (Gil Birmingham) and right-hand man Mo (Mo Brings Loads), Rip Wheeler (Cole Hauser) and the cowboys within the Dutton’s bunkhouse (performed by Forrie J. Smith, Denim Richards, Ian Bohen, Jake Ream, Ryan Bingham and Jen Landon), in addition to newer antagonists performed by Daybreak Olivieri and Piper Perabo.
Grimes lately stated he understood Costner’s determination to prioritize Horizon, however known as it “unlucky” for the story. “No matter occurred there’s unlucky if it’s modified something about how the present was going to unfold,” he stated. It has beforehand been reported that Costner needed to approve his character’s destiny within the sequence, however Sheridan — like most showrunners — doesn’t sometimes let actors decide how their character’s storylines finish.
What Is the Way forward for the Franchise?
The Yellowstone-verse isn’t slowing down. In actual fact, it’s solely ramping up. With the flagship reigning because the most-watched sequence throughout cable and broadcast, Paramount Community beforehand confirmed that two extra spinoffs are within the works: 2024 (working title), a present-day story, and one other prequel, 1944, that may comply with within the footsteps of 1883 and 1923.
After setting scores information and launching a number of star-driven spinoffs (Religion Hill and Tim McGraw, in addition to Harrison Ford and Helen Mirren now depend themselves among the many Duttons), the ranch drama has sparked a Western style craze and has grow to be a mannequin for a brand new wave of franchise-building.
Amid the content material halt and delay from the strikes, Paramount International seemed to develop the Yellowstone viewers much more. Paramount Community launched a linear, weekly rerelease of prequel hit 1883 in June and CBS has been airing edited episodes of Yellowstone on its schedule Sunday nights (the primary season premiered to a strong begin in scores).
In the meantime the franchise’s second prequel sequence, 1923, was renewed for a second season earlier than the strike and the sequel sequence was introduced to be airing in tandem with the ultimate season of Yellowstone (it stays to be seen if these plans will stay). Sheridan had confirmed to THR that he was planning a number of extra prequels; and now a type of has been confirmed. (The beforehand introduced 4 Sixes sequence, which was set to comply with Yellowstone cowboy Jimmy, performed by Jefferson White, is on maintain.) “I feel there will probably be sufficient for a lot of extra [prequels] — three or 4,” he stated. “Chris McCarthy trusts me, as a result of I haven’t been mistaken but.”
The place Will the Sequel Sequence Soar?
The follow-up installment, now tentatively named 2024, was given a straight-to-series order and can stream on Paramount+ (sooner or later sooner or later). Sheridan had hinted in THR‘s cowl story that the spinoff — which might be the primary to happen after the occasions of Yellowstone — may lean on a completely new forged and placement, but it surely’s now been introduced that the sequence will proceed exploring the Dutton household dynasty with new characters and places, in addition to some current characters.
There may be nonetheless no official phrase on McConaughey’s casting, or on which Yellowstone stars will return, however Hauser lately hinted that his Rip and Reilly’s Beth may play an element within the sequel.
Particulars on 1944 are scarce in the intervening time, however the creator had hinted that his method could be much like that taken with the prequels, which functioned as stand-alone tales throughout the generational household tree. “There are many locations the place a lifestyle that existed for 150 years is slamming towards a brand new lifestyle, however the challenges are fully completely different. There are quite a lot of locations you possibly can inform this story,” he stated.
James Hibberd contributed to this story.
This story initially posted July 2023 and will probably be up to date as information develops.