Yellowstone has been a breakout hit for the Paramount Network and remains one of the most-watched shows on television, consistently driving massive viewership and spawning an entire franchise of spin-offs. So when the fifth season wrapped up in 2024, expectations around Yellowstone Season 6 were immediate. Given the show’s popularity, its expanding universe, and multiple unresolved storylines, a continuation felt less like a possibility and more like the obvious next step.
However, Yellowstone Season 6 is not happening—at least not in the way fans originally expected. Yellowstone officially concluded with Season 5, and there has been no confirmation of a traditional sixth season. Instead, what was once expected to be Season 6 has effectively been reworked into a series of spin-offs that continue the story in a different format.
This shift is at the center of ongoing confusion around the future of Yellowstone. Early reports and industry speculation suggested that the show would continue with key characters, particularly Beth and Rip, leading into another season. But as production challenges mounted and key cast changes—most notably the exit of Kevin Costner—reshaped the direction of the series, those plans evolved into a broader franchise strategy.
As a result, Yellowstone Season 6 has effectively been replaced by new shows like Dutton Ranch, which carry forward major storylines without being labeled as a direct continuation. For viewers searching for answers, the key thing to understand is simple: the story isn’t over, but the format has changed.
Is Yellowstone season 6 still happening?
The short answer is no. There has been no official confirmation of Yellowstone Season 6, and all current developments suggest that the original series has concluded with its fifth season.
What complicates this is that, for a long time, Season 6 did appear to be a real possibility. Industry reports, cast negotiations, and early development discussions all pointed toward some form of continuation. However, those plans were never finalized in the traditional sense, and over time, they were absorbed into a different strategy altogether.
Today, the focus is no longer on extending Yellowstone as a single series, but on continuing its story through multiple interconnected shows. That distinction is key to understanding why Season 6 isn’t moving forward, even though the narrative itself is far from over.
Why Yellowstone Season 6 never happened
The absence of a sixth season is tied to a combination of creative decisions and real-world constraints that reshaped the future of the show.
A major turning point was the exit of Kevin Costner. As John Dutton, Costner was the central figure around which much of the story revolved. His departure created a gap that would have been difficult to address within the structure of a traditional new season without fundamentally altering the show’s identity.
At the same time, production timelines became increasingly complicated. Delays, scheduling conflicts, and the scale of the show made it harder to maintain continuity in the way earlier seasons had. Rather than pushing forward under those limitations, the decision was made to bring the main series to a close.
This wasn’t simply a cancellation. It was a pivot. By ending the original run, the creators opened the door to continue the story in a way that allowed more flexibility, both narratively and from a production standpoint.
What is replacing Yellowstone Season 6?
While Season 6 is not happening, the story that would have followed is still being told—just under different titles.
Dutton Ranch
This is the closest equivalent to a direct continuation. Centered on Beth Dutton and Rip Wheeler, Dutton Ranch picks up key threads from the original series and develops them further. In practical terms, it carries forward the emotional and narrative arcs that many viewers expected to see in a sixth season.
The difference is structural rather than narrative. Instead of being released as another season of Yellowstone, it stands as its own series, giving it more room to redefine tone, pacing, and focus.
The Madison and the wider franchise
Beyond direct continuations, the Yellowstone universe is expanding in multiple directions. New series are exploring different characters and settings, building a broader narrative ecosystem rather than relying on a single flagship show.
This approach allows the franchise to grow without being constrained by the expectations attached to a numbered season. It also reflects a larger industry trend, where successful shows evolve into interconnected story worlds instead of continuing indefinitely under one title.
Who is returning in the next chapter?
Even without a formal Season 6, several key characters remain central to the story moving forward.
- Kelly Reilly continues as Beth Dutton
- Cole Hauser continues as Rip Wheeler
Their presence ensures continuity for audiences who have followed the series closely. While the setting and structure may shift, the core relationships and conflicts that defined Yellowstone are still very much in play.
Will Luke Grimes star in the Beth and Rip spinoff?
Kayce Dutton in Y: Marshals,a new procedural coming to CBS. The only confirmed cast member besides Grimes is Logan Marshall-Green, who will play Kayce’s military friend, Pete Calvin.
Per the show’s description, “Kayce will be combining his skills as a cowboy and Navy SEAL to bring range justice to Montana, where he and his teammates must balance family, duty, and the high psychological cost that comes with serving as the last line of defense in the region’s war on violence.”
Y: Marshalsis set to premiere in 2026 as part of CBS’ midseason lineup. The show is slated to air on Sunday nights at 9 p.m. ET.
Is Michelle Pfeiffer going to star in a Yellowstone spinoff?
Variety, Michelle Pfeiffer will star in The Madison and serve as an executive producer alongside series Sheridan. Pfeiffer will play Stacy Clyburn, a matriarch who moves her family from New York City to Montana’s Madison River Valley after her husband’s death.
In a statement, Paramount Global co-CEO Chris McCarthy acknowledged the news and said, “Michelle Pfeiffer is a remarkable talent who imbues every role with emotional depth, authenticity, and grace. She is the perfect anchor to the newest chapter of the Yellowstone universe, The Madison, from the brilliant mind of Taylor Sheridan.”
The rest of The Madison’s cast
After months of apparent inactivity, the cast of the Yellowstone spinoff The Madisonis coming together. Via The Hollywood Reporter, Suits star Patrick J. Adams has signed on to a starring role opposite Pfeiffer. Adams will play Russell McIntosh, a man who is described as someone “who has followed the life path set before him from the start.”
Film actress Elle Chapman, whose previous credits include A Man Called Otto and Florida Wild, is making her TV debut in this series as Paige McIntosh, a “somewhat self-centered woman who indulges in a luxurious New York lifestyle provided by her parents and investment banker husband.” She is Russell’s wife and the daughter of Pfeiffer’s character.
Firefly Lane‘s Beau Garrett has also been cast as Abigail Reese. Abigail doesn’t appear to be a member of the McIntosh family, but she is a recently divorced single mother who is described as a “resilient and sardonic New Yorker.” Abigail is Paige’s sister and the other daughter of Pfeiffer’s character. Amiah Miller will play Abigail’s oldest daughter.
Lost star Matthew Fox has also landed a leading role on the series as Paul, “a self-reliant bachelor who loves the outdoors.” It’s unclear if he has any relationship to the McIntosh family.
Other cast members announced include Kevin Zegers as Cade, Stacy’s new neighbor; Alaina Pollack as Macy, Abigail’s youngest daughter; Rebecca Spence as Liliana Weeks; Stacy’s friend and a New York City elitist; and Danielle Vasinova as Kestrel, “an indigenous woman married to a Montana rancher who lives with her family on a double-wide trailer on their ranch.”
A previous report from Deadline noted that veteran actor Kurt Russell is also in talks to join the series. However, Russell was never announced as a cast member.
The Madisonhas no release date.
Is Matthew McConaughey going to star in a Yellowstone spinoff?
Puck reported McConaughey would not sign on until he saw a script for the spinoff. If McConaughey does agree to a contract, it would be his first leading role on TV since HBO’s first season of True Detective in 2014. McConaughey’s star power is also arguably greater than Costner’s at this point in their respective careers.
As of August 2025, McConaughey is not involved in any Yellowstone spinoff.
Will Yellowstone ever return for Season 6?
At this point, a traditional Season 6 appears unlikely. The franchise has already moved forward with a different model, and there has been no indication that it plans to return to the original format.
That said, the idea of “Season 6” hasn’t disappeared entirely—it has simply been redistributed. The storylines, character arcs, and themes that would have shaped another season are now unfolding across multiple series instead.
For viewers, the distinction is mostly in name and format rather than substance.
Where can I watch Yellowstone?
Yellowstone spinoffs, including1883and1923, stream on Paramount+.
Where can I watch the other Yellowstone spinoffs?
Paramount+. 1883consists of one season, while1923had two. 1944, a thirdYellowstoneprequel, is in development and expected to air on Paramount+.6666, aYellowstonespinoff about the West Texas 6666 ranch, is in development and slated to air on Paramount Network.
What happened at the end of Yellowstone season 5?
Season 5 Highlight: Kayce’s Plan | Yellowstone | Paramount Network
In the season 5 finale, Kayce sold the ranch to the Broken Rock Reservation for $1.25 per acre, the same amount his ancestors paid to buy the land. Kayce took a small portion of the land to live with his family and run a new ranch.
As for Beth, she finally fulfilled her promise by killing Jamie. Beth and Rip then moved to a nearby ranch in Montana.
Why did Kevin Costner leave Yellowstone?
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.”
What does Kevin Costner say about his future involvement with Yellowstone?
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.
“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
Deadline on May 13 showed his apparent anger about the situation and the story that has unfolded in the media over the last year.
“I don’t want to get down in the gutter with the Yellowstone thing but what I’m telling you is straight up,” Costner said. “I have taken a beating from those f***ing guys and I know a lot of times where it’s coming from. I just elected not to get into that. But if you know me well enough, I made Yellowstone the first priority, and to insinuate anything else would be wrong. I did not initiate any of those things. They did. They were doing a tap dance and this poor guy was also having to write so much. And I don’t know why they didn’t stick up for me.”
Costner’s account from his divorce trial lines up with his latest comments about the issues facing Yellowstone season 5, part 2, particularly the lack of scripts to shoot. He also explained where the rumor came from that he only wanted to work a week on the remaining episodes of the season.
“They didn’t have the scripts for anything else,” Costner said. “So, what you read in the end was that I said, ‘Well, look, I’m doing my movie. If you want me to work a week because you want to kill me or whatever else, I can give you a week.’ I really didn’t have that week to give them, but I said, I’ll do that. And then they [spun that] into, I only wanted to work a week.”
“I’m usually working six or seven days per each, whatever they are,” Costner added. “And they took that and a source on their side spun that into, well, he only wants to work a week for a whole season. Do you think that’s who I am? I’ve never missed a day of work. I’ve never left before fulfilling my contractual obligations. A lot of times, I stay as much as I can.
“In fact, I worked the nine-day stretch just to try to help them in July, when I was starting [Horizon] August 1. I worked a Saturday and Sunday for them, and they still needed four more days. I gave it to them, when I thought we were going to do this so-called B, but there was no B thing. I was just going to give ‘em those extra four days.”
“I’m very open to coming back,” Costner said. “If they’ve got so many other things going on, maybe this circles back and it’s a really cool two seasons. Or end it, if the writing’s there and I’m happy with it. I’m open to that. But I took a beating over these guys not speaking up for me and allowing crazy stories to come out. I’m not happy about that. But if the writing is there, I will be there too.”
“They had first position,” Costner said. “I didn’t do Horizonbecause I was tired of doingYellowstone. That’s a bulls*** story. I didn’t do Horizonto compete withYellowstone. This is something I’ve had a long time. Taylor read that script three years earlier when he was contemplating other writers [forYellowstone].
“I said, well, you can look at what John [Baird] and I did, not that I think I’m qualified. I think you write Yellowstone beautifully. So, he read that and knew what the thing was about. It’s just that simple: Paramount and 101 Studios mismanaged this. They had me for five, six, and seven. I agreed to do it. And then they steadily began changing their format.”
Does Kevin Costner want a say in the fate of John Dutton?
Entertainment Tonight, Costner expressed his desire to see Dutton as the author of his own fate.
“[Dutton] needs to be proactive in what happens and I’ve kind of had my own fantasy how [the character’s final arc] might be,” noted Costner. “But that’s Taylor’s thing. I said as much to him a while back. I had thoughts how it could happen, but we just have to see.”
Does this mean that Costner is coming back? Not quite. As noted above, the previous report in Puck suggests that Sheridan may be less than accommodating about changing his scripts for the remaining episodes of Yellowstone even if it means giving the show’s star one last sendoff. Regardless, Costner sounds hopeful about the situation.
“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,” related Costner. “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.”
Kevin Costner says goodbye to Yellowstone
The end of an era has arrived. While the writing was on the wall when Yellowstone season 5 resumed without a deal for Costner to return, the actor spent months praising the show in the press and expressing his willingness to return. Now, with episodes already being filmed, Costner has acknowledged that he’s done with with Yellowstone and won’t be coming back.
“I just want to reach out and let you know that after this long year and a half of working on Horizon and doing all the things that that’s required… and thinking about Yellowstone, that beloved series that I love, that I know you love. I just realized that I’m not going to be able to continue, season 5 or into the future,” said Costner on his Instagram account.
“I loved it and I know you loved it, and I just wanted to let you know that I won’t be returning,” Costner added. “I love the relationship we’ve been able to develop, and I’ll see you at the movies.”
How did Kevin Costner react to the fate of John Dutton?
Kevin Costner: Yellowstone, Horizon and more on The Michael Smerconish Program
Warning: There are spoilers ahead for the mid-season premiere of Yellowstone season 5.
Kevin Costner says he didn’t watch the first episode of Yellowstone season 5 part 2, but he told Michael Smerconish that he heard second hand what happened while appearing on SirusXM’s The Michael Smerconish Program.
“I heard it’s a suicide, so that doesn’t make me want to rush to go see it,” said Costner. Smerconish replied by saying that Costner’s character, John Dutton, didn’t seem like the kind of guy who would take his own life. Costner replied,“Well, they’re pretty smart people. Maybe it’s a red herring. Who knows? They’re very good. And they’ll figure that out.”
Costner also noted that he’s seen his face and footage of his character being used to promote the final episodes.
“I didn’t know it was actually airing last night,” said Costner. “That’s a swear to God moment. I swear to God. I mean, I’ve been seeing ads with my face all over the place and I’m thinking, ‘Gee, I’m not in that one.’ I’m not in this season. But I’ve been seeing, but I didn’t realize yesterday was the thing. … So no, I found out about it this morning actually.”
In the context of the show, John’s death was apparently staged as a suicide by an unknown hitman hired by Sarah (Dawn Olivieri), at the behest of her boyfriend — and John’s estranged adoptive son — Jamie Dutton (Wes Bentley). Jamie claimed that they only spoke about killing John once, but that was apparently enough to spur Sarah into action. And this may be a tragedy that the Dutton family is unable to recover from, even as Jamie and his sister, Beth, fight each other for their own respective futures.
What to watch next after Yellowstone
For those looking to continue with the story, the Yellowstone universe offers several entry points beyond the original series.
Prequels like 1883 and 1923 explore the origins of the Dutton family, providing context that deepens the main storyline. Meanwhile, newer spin-offs are designed to carry the narrative forward, focusing on what happens after the events of Yellowstone.
Taken together, these shows form a continuous narrative that extends both backward and forward in time, making the franchise larger than any single season—including the one that never materialized.
The bottom line
Yellowstone Season 6 is not happening as a direct continuation of the original series. Instead, the franchise has shifted toward a broader, multi-series approach that allows its story to continue without being tied to a single format.
For viewers, that means the end of Yellowstone is not a conclusion, but a transition. The characters, conflicts, and world remain intact—they are simply unfolding across new shows that take the story in different directions while still staying connected to its roots.
