With delays, cast drama and ongoing strikes, a lot remains unclear about the final season of hit western Yellowstone.
As the Dutton family and the cast of Yellowstone face uncertainties amid the hit series coming to an end, fans, until recently, were wondering not just what to expect in the final season but when they can expect it. With the WGA strike over and the SAG-AFTRA strike (hopefully) about to end, the Paramount Network updated fans on Yellowstone: Season 6.
What Happened to Yellowstone: Season 5 Part 2?
Originally, the plan was to split the fifth season of Yellowstone into two parts, with Part 2 due to air in fall of 2023. That didn’t happen due to the strikes, so now Paramount is dubbing Yelllowstone’s final season number 6. It’s now due in the fall of 2024.
How many episodes will Yellowstone: Season 6 be?
Two of the biggest problems facing the final season of Yellowstone stem directly from the strikes, as creator Taylor Sheridan had yet to complete the scripts when the WGA strike was called. Even if the scripts are done, as long as the SAG-AFTRA strike continues, no filming can happen. In a recent story on The Hollywood Reporter it was revealed that Sheridan had originally planned six episodes for the back half of season 5, but season 6 could be long.
Will Kevin Costner be in it?
Yellowstone made more headlines than ever when it was revealed that Costner wanted to put in fewer hours during the final season partly so he could focus on his passion project Horizon: An American Saga. Once it was out that Costner would officially be leaving the ranch, word came that the show would be coming to an end. While we wait for the last set of episodes, CBS announced that Yellowstone re-runs would be part of their Sunday night schedule this fall, and lo-and-behold, the edited-for-broadcast-tv version is now one of the top rated series on TV.
But where does that leave John Dutton? According to a bombshell report on Puck, Costner wanted veto power over how his character made his exit on the show, ensuring he would have a “moral death” clause. Sheridan is said to have declined, but, perhaps the strike may have cooled things off a bit. Maybe, just maybe, Dutton’s arc won’t be as truncated as headlines seems to suggest.
What is Yellowstone 2024?
This seems to be the current title for the sequel series starring Matthew McConaughey and (potentially) other members of the Yellowstone cast. No word yet on what the series will involve, but you can be sure that John Dutton won’t be tipping his hat – both because of Costner and, come on, Dutton has to die in Yellowstone, right?
What About the Prequels?
The well-received prequel 1923, starring Harrison Ford and Helen Mirren, is set to air one more season. It will likely premiere before Yellowstone Season 6, as Sheridan is thought to have completed the scripts. Paramount also announced another spin-off called 1944, which would presumably take the Dutton clan through WW2, and could (theoretically) include characters from 1923, including Brandon Sklenar’s Spencer. That said, the role could potentially be recast, as, if he’s supposed to be in his fifties, Sklenar would be a bit on the young side.
What do you expect to see in the final season of Yellowstone? Which character(s) do you think won’t make it out alive? Let us know!
