‘Yellowstone’ and What We Know About the Spinoffs

Yellowstone (5 seasons)

The Paramount Network flagship series that started it all began in 2018 and will release its fifth and final season on Nov. 10.

The formerly Kevin Costner-led cattle ranch family saga has continuously grown its audience season to season, with the premiere of part one of season five breaking ratings records and earning the biggest overnight launch yet for the series.

After star Costner was embroiled in a standoff over his filming schedule, which delayed production, Paramount Network announced that the megahit series would end with season five. After many months of speculation, Costner finally confirmed earlier this summer that he has indeed departed the series. Viewers, however, will have to tune in to see how Sheridan will write him off the series, given the cliffhanger ending the series left off on with its midseason finale.

Kelly Reilly, Wes Bentley, Luke Grimes, Cole Hauser and Kelsey Asbille co-star.

Because of a licensing deal that pre-dated the Viacom-CBS merger, Yellowstone has streamed exclusively on NBCUniversal-backed Peacock (and isn’t available on Paramount+ like the prequels are; see how to watch the series here). In order to continue to grow the audience — and while viewers await the final episodes — CBS has been re-airing the entire series on Sunday nights.

1883 (1 season)

In December 2021, 1883 launched first on Paramount+ before getting a full-season run on Paramount Network that summer. The prequel series to Yellowstone was narrated by star Isabel May and followed her and co-stars Sam Elliott, Faith Hill and Tim McGraw on a 19th-century wagon trail in their epic, cross-country journey before settling what would become the Yellowstone Ranch seen in the flagship series.

The Paramount+ series was such a hit out of the gate that the network ordered more episodes for the limited series and sparked the franchise’s expansion into 1923 (more on that below). After it had already been available to stream on Paramount+ for a year, the Paramount Network telecast drew just under 5 million viewers following an episode of Yellowstone and set a premiere record for the channel. Paramount Network also launched a linear, weekly rerelease in June 2023 amid the dual strikes.

1923 (1 season; renewed for season 2)

Picking up decades after 1883 left off, the second Yellowstone prequel series, 1923, traced more Dutton lineage to the elder Duttons played by Harrison Ford and Helen Mirren.

Creator Sheridan explained of his decision to jump the series to the year 1923: “I chose that moment in time to peek back in because you’re seeing the children that we’ve met in 1883 attempting to raise another generation of Dutton.” The saga ended on a cliffhanger focused around the emerging main character of the series played by Brandon Sklenar and was quickly renewed for a second season. The early 20th century drama’s premiere became the most-watched series premiere on cable in 2022.

Production is currently underway, but a premiere date has yet to be announced.

The Madison (formerly 2024; 1 season ordered)

When confirming the end of Yellowstone, Paramount Network had set the wheels in motion for two more spinoffs. One was the first-ever Yellowstone sequel, which had the working title 2024. The present-day story would take place after the events of Yellowstone. It was given a straight-to-series order and will stream on Paramount+ (a premiere date has yet to be set). The series will continue exploring the Dutton family dynasty with new characters and locations, as well as some existing characters.

Matthew McConaughey was initially in talks to star in the series, widely reported when the Costner standoff began. However, a deal was never announced.

Now, this series is taking shape: That follow-up has been re-titled to The Madison and will star Michelle Pfeiffer. The Oscar-nominated movie star will also executive produce the sequel series from franchise boss Sheridan, and Madison will be the next show to roll out in the Yellowstone universe.

The Madison is described as a heartfelt study of grief and human connection following a New York City family in the Madison River valley of central Montana.

Suits star Patrick J. Adams, TV newcomer Elle Chapman and Firefly Lane star Beau Garrett have since been added to the cast, with Adam playing a young investment banker and the latter two playing New Yorker characters.

1944 (1 season ordered)

The second spinoff that was announced is another prequel, set in 1944, that will follow in the footsteps of 1883 and 1923. Details around this series are scarce. Sheridan, who co-created Yellowstone with John Linson and is the showrunner for the franchise, told The Hollywood Reporter in a June cover story that he had several prequel ideas brewing, though 1944 is the first to get a green light.

As with the previous series, the spinoffs will be produced by MTV Entertainment Studios and 101 Studios.

6666 (on hold)

Sheridan announced that the 6666 spinoff series that had been set to star Yellowstone actor Jefferson White (Jimmy) is on hold given Sheridan’s purchase of the property where the show would be filmed, the Four Sixes ranch. (The Montana ranch in Yellowstone is fictional, but the Four Sixes ranch, featured as the 6666 Ranch in the series, is real.) “That, for a number of reasons, needs a unique level of special care because this is a real place with real families working here,” he explained in THR‘s cover story. “You have to respect the lineage. I’ve told [the studio] to be patient.”

Read more:

‘Yellowstone’ and the Sprawling Dutton Family Tree, Explained

The End of ‘Yellowstone’: What Is Known About the Final Episodes

Taylor Sheridan Does Whatever He Wants: “I Will Tell My Stories My Way”