Everything you need to know about Yellowstone season 6

Since its premiere in 2018, Yellowstone has been a breakout hit for The Paramount Network and one of the most popular shows on TV. Taylor Sheridan’s modern Western also revitalized Kevin Costner’s career by placing him in the lead as John Dutton, the patriarch of the Dutton family, who own the Yellowstone Dutton Ranch, one of the largest ranches in Montana.

The fifth season of Yellowstone premiered in 2022, but the future of the series and the franchise were called into question when reports emerged that Costner was leaving the show and Paramount Network had already ordered a sequel series that will continue without Costner’s involvement. To bring everyone up to speed, here’s everything you need to know about the future of Yellowstone.

Will there be a sixth season of Yellowstone?

Sort of, but not something labeled as Yellowstone season 6. The six remaining episodes of Yellowstone are still technically part of the fifth season, or season 5B, as Paramount has called it. But at the same time that Paramount confirmed the end of Yellowstone, the studio also announced that a contemporary spinoff is on the way that will feature many of the show’s current cast members.

Additionally, Matthew McConaughey is reportedly being eyed as the lead character in the new series, which will continue the saga of the Dutton family in lieu of a sixth season.

Why is Kevin Costner leaving Yellowstone?

In February 2023, Deadline reported that the dispute between Costner and The Paramount Network concerned his participation in season 5’s filming schedule. It noted that Costner’s priority was Horizon, a new multipart Western film that is his current passion project. According to the report, Costner’s commitments to those films led him to shoot only 50 days for the first half of Yellowstone season 5. But Costner “only wanted to spend a week shooting” for the remaining episodes of the season. Subsequently, Paramount Network made plans to end the series and push toward a sequel show.

Sheridan addressed the issue in a June 2023 interview with The Hollywood Reporter, where he said: “My last conversation with Kevin was that he had this passion project he wanted to direct. He and the network argued about when he could be done with Yellowstone. I said, ‘We can certainly work a schedule toward [his preferred exit date],’ which we did.”

“My opinion of Kevin as an actor hasn’t altered,” added Sheridan. “I’ve never had an issue with Kevin that he and I couldn’t work out on the phone. But once lawyers get involved, then people don’t get to talk to each other and start saying things that aren’t true and attempt to shift blame based on how the press or public seem to be reacting. He took a lot of this on the chin, and I don’t know that anyone deserves it … I’m disappointed. It truncates the closure of his character. It doesn’t alter it, but it truncates it.”

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What does Kevin Costner say about his future involvement with Yellowstone?

Costner has not given interviews about the subject until very recently. As reported by Deadline, Costner’s departure from Yellowstone came up during his divorce proceedings in September 2023,

“Somewhere along the line, they wanted to change things,” said Costner during his testimony in court. “They wanted to do 5A and 5B; [it] affected Horizon. I was going to do my movie Horizon and leave that show, do my movie, then do B. A show I was only doing once a year I was now doing twice.”

“We did negotiate,” added Costner. “There were issues about creative … I tried to break the logjam. They walked away.” Costner also noted that he was offered $24 million to shoot Yellowstone seasons 6 and 7. Additionally, Costner said that he will “probably go to court” over his dispute with Paramount Network. But as of January 2024, no court case has been filed by the actor. And it is still unknown if Costner will return for the final episodes of Yellowstone.

However, a March 2024 report from Matthew Belloni of Puck News stated that Costner wants to return for Yellowstone’s final run of episodes.

“Kevin Costner has been telling people he’s planning to return for at least a cameo and possibly more, but there are currently no discussions for him to do that,” Belloni wrote in his newsletter. “Even if Costner significantly lowers his financial and time commitment demands, Sheridan may not want to bother reopening his finished scripts to accommodate a send-off for John Dutton.

Those comments were borne out by Costner himself, who has spent the last three months talking about his desire to return to Yellowstone in some capacity… and on his own terms.

A possible return to Yellowstone

Even in June 2024, with new episodes in production, Costner is still striking a conciliatory tone while praising the series.

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“I’ve supported that thing and I’ve loved it,” Costner said during an appearance on NBC’s Today. “It’s been really important to me. I would love to go back under the right circumstances I think that all of us want. For me, it really needs to be the right circumstances.”

Costner added that “there’s always a chance,” he could still return, even now. “I love the thing. You’ve got to be really clear about that.”

Kevin Costner addresses the rumors about his Yellowstone exit

Costner is now promoting his new western, Horizon.

During his interview with Deadline on May 13, Kevin Costner expressed his frustration and anger over the situation and the unfolding story in the media over the past year. Costner stated that he felt attacked by certain individuals and that he prioritized working on Yellowstone above all else. He also clarified rumors about his availability for filming and voiced his disappointment that others involved in the show did not defend him during this time. Despite the tension, Costner mentioned that he is open to returning for the final episodes if the writing is satisfactory. Additionally, he debunked rumors that his involvement with another project, Horizon, was a result of any dissatisfaction with Yellowstone, emphasizing his commitment to the show. Costner also hinted at his desire for his character, John Dutton, to have a significant role in determining his fate in the series. Costner expressed his hopefulness about the situation, stating, “I’d like to be able to do it, but we haven’t been able to … I thought I was going to make seven [seasons] but right now we’re at five. So how it works out — I hope it does — but they’ve got a lot of different shows going on. Maybe it will. Maybe this will circle back to me. If it does and I feel really comfortable with [it], I’d love to do it.” Despite his positive outlook, Costner has since announced that he will not be returning to Yellowstone, marking the end of an era. However, there was no mention of McConaughey once again, leaving uncertainty about his potential appearance in the spinoff.

### Which Yellowstone cast members will return for the spinoff?
Prior to the actors’ strike last year, Deadline reported that it was unclear whether the spinoff featuring McConaughey would be set on the Dutton ranch in Montana or elsewhere, and which original Yellowstone stars would be part of the series. However, recent reports suggest that Kelly Reilly, Cole Hauser, and Luke Grimes are in talks to join the spinoff. Negotiations are still ongoing, with Reilly and Hauser reportedly asking for significant pay increases.

Given the events of Yellowstone season 5A, it seems unlikely that Reilly and Wes Bentley will return for the spinoff, as their characters, Beth and Jamie Dutton, have a tumultuous relationship that may not end well for either of them.

### Kelly Reilly and Cole Hauser are open to joining the Yellowstone spinoff
Reilly and Hauser have expressed interest in potentially joining the spinoff, but their main focus is on finishing Yellowstone season 5 first. Discussions are ongoing, and both actors are excited to see where the creative direction takes them.

### When will Yellowstone season 5, part 2 begin production?
Paramount Network has confirmed that filming for Yellowstone season 5, part 2 has started in Montana as of May 20, 2024. The final episodes are expected to air later this year.

### When will the last episodes of Yellowstone season 5 premiere?
Yellowstone season 5, part 2 is set to premiere on Sunday, November 10 on Paramount Network. The episodes will also be available on Peacock in America, with Paramount+ streaming them the same day in Canada.

### Does Kevin Costner’s new movie, Horizon: An American Saga, have any Yellowstone connections?
Kevin Costner’s upcoming movie, Horizon: An American Saga, is a personal project of the actor and will be released in two parts later this year. The movie does not appear to have any direct connections to Yellowstone. Fans of the hit show Yellowstone couldn’t help but notice some striking similarities between the movie and the series. Both feature a Western setting, Kevin Costner in the role of a tough patriarch defending his land, and a large ensemble cast of well-known character actors like Will Patton, Giovanni Ribisi, and many others.

Despite these parallels, the movie is not directly connected to Yellowstone. Set during the American Civil War, it does not delve into the early years of the Dutton clan like the spinoff shows 1883 and 1923 do. Nevertheless, fans of Yellowstone are drawn to the movie. According to Good Housekeeping, viewers of the Paramount Network hit are eager to see Costner in this new role, as he has been a central figure in the long-running series.

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