Paramount Network
There was a time when those faithful to a TV series would be rewarded for their patience via a nail-biting cliffhanger the following season. For over a year, fans of said show would speculate about what they’d like to see happen next, only to see their favorite characters back in action, right where they left off. If this sounds like wishful thinking on the part of a “Yellowstone” fan, you’d be right. Forget what you already think you know about the iconic Paramount Network show and start again.
All the rumored spinoffs, possible cast members, and the exit of “Yellowstone’s” biggest star, Kevin Costner, has all but left us fans wondering what the next season will bring. It’s well-known that “Yellowstone” is returning to the Paramount Network on November 10. What’s not well known is where the show will pick up. I mean, Costner’s character as the patriarch John Dutton is out. He was just elected governor of Montana, how is this going to fit into season 5B (or part 2)?
Perhaps an even bigger question surrounding the show this week is a verified report that a “Yellowstone” season 6 is actually on the table.
No, it will not star Matthew McConaughey or any of the other half dozen A-list actors mentioned over the past year in relation to the show. Instead, according to a report from Esquire magazine, “Yellowstone” season 6 aims to put the spotlight on Rip Wheeler (Cole Hauser), Beth Dutton (Kelly Reilly), and Kayce Dutton (Luke Grimes). If this is true, then there goes our possible season 5B spoiler alert from over a month ago.
So, how did we get here?
Like many a “Yellowstone” fan, I’ve heard the rumors of a possible season 6 but rolled my eyes, thinking it would be a miracle if the show’s producers could pull off season 5B. Add to this the rumor that the ending had been leaked, I was content to wait for the last installment in November.
What I failed to realize was there were signs pointing to this as far back as June of 2023. It was then Paramount had previously announced that a season 6 would be put aside in favor of a series offshoot. This makes sense given that Sheridan has created both the “1883” and “1923” series as prequels to his main show “Yellowstone.” McConaughey was reportedly in talks to be the offshoot’s star, but he was never officially attached to the project.
According to an article in Esquire, Season 6 will likely run in conjunction with the new spinoff series, “The Madison,” starring Michelle Pfeiffer and Mathew Fox. The spinoff is set to take place in the same universe as “Yellowstone” but follow an entirely new family named the Clyburns. And if that’s not enough to swallow, there’s even a rumor that Sheridan is working on, yet another spinoff set in 1944.
Per Costner, he verified that he will not appear in the final episodes of season 5B, but that doesn’t mean he won’t be involved either in front of, or behind the scenes for “Yellowstone” season 6. A report by Puck magazine stated that Costner was supposed to get paid for a potential season 6 and season 7 of “Yellowstone,” which went the way of the Dodo Bird when they decided to end the series after season 5B.
However, that same report stated that Costner is actually "still asking that Sheridan bring him back to finish his arc." This could prove for a better ending for Costner and his character, but Paramount still hasn’t verified his involvement.
It’s also still unknown how Costner’s character will be taken off the show for season 5B. There's a good chance his death will occur off-screen. This seems like a writer’s cheat, but possibly the only way to tie up loose ends on the show. I think a possible reference to the “train station” will suffice.
