TV’s top-rated drama, “Yellowstone,” could be coming to an end with several of the cast expected to shift to a major new spin-off.
A new report at Deadline indicates that co-creator and showrunner Taylor Sheridan, Paramount Global and Paramount Network are all moving to end their signature show in its current form.
In addition, the trade says they are plotting a potential franchise extension to continue the Dutton saga – a new series with Matthew McConaughey in talks to star and several of the cast of the main series jumping over to that new series.
The main reason for this relates to Kevin Costner and disagreements over shooting schedules according to the outlet. Costner had originally limited himself to 65 days of shooting on “Yellowstone” and only wanted to shoot for 50 days for the first part of the current fifth season.
For the second half of the season, currently in production, Costner reportedly only wanted to spend a week shooting as he is busy directing and starring in his multi-part western epic “Horizon” at Warner Bros. Pictures and New Line.
As Costner plays series lead John Dutton, this disagreement has been a source of frustration for Sheridan and it is reportedly causing morale problems for the others in the cast.
So the report claims Paramount Network has declined Costner’s most recent proposal and instead made the decision to move on to the other show. Now they’re figuring out a franchise extension that Sheridan will write with McConaughey currently in negotiations to star.
A Paramount Network spokesperson tells the outlet “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.” They add they’re always working on franchise expansions and “Matthew McConaughey is a phenomenal talent with whom we’d love to partner.”
As a result of this, it’s looking like “Yellowstone” could well end with the second half of the current season which is set to return in the Summer. The new series would then take over and start on the linear cable channel Paramount Network before streaming exclusively on Paramount+.
Because of the wild success of prequel series “1883” and “1923”, along with Sheridan’s brand name, the studio isn’t as beholden to “Yellowstone” as it once was.
