Those looking forward to the return of Yellowstone‘s fifth and final season will have to wait a much longer time as Paramount revealed the final six episodes will air in November 2024. In addition, two more spin-offs from Taylor Sheridan’s growing franchise have also been announced with one of them being the reported continuation focusing on new and old characters.
Yellowstone had its fifth season split into two parts with the first eight episodes airing from November 2022 to January 2023. There are several factors for Part 2’s long delay, mostly due to the impact of both the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes which have lasted for months and stopped development and production of several film and TV shows, Yellowstone included. While the WGA reached a deal with the AMPTP a couple months ago, SAG-AFTRA is still negotiating with the studios and while recent reports have said a deal is close, it could still be a while before it is finalized. Until then, even with writers going back to the table, Yellowstone is not near production on its final episodes.
The other factor in its delay is Kevin Costner’s busy schedule, something which has reportedly caused a lot of friction between him, Sheridan and Paramount as Costner is the main lead of the series but has only made himself available for 65 shooting days in the year. This is due to his desire to direct and star in his Western epics Horizon: An American Saga which is being split into two parts with each released next summer. Reports earlier this year cited Costner’s schedule as being too rigid and a reason why the main Yellowstone series was abruptly ending with its fifth season instead of continuing for more as Sheridan seemingly planned.
To that end, Paramount announced two more spin-offs in the Yellowstone franchise. Yellowstone: 1944 is another prequel which, like 1883 and 1923, will focus on the Dutton family legacy. The second spin-off is Yellowstone: 2024, a continuation of Yellowstone that will feature new characters and locations while having original Yellowstone characters crossover. Rumours have been circulating for months True Detective star Matthew McConaughey is in talks to lead 2024, but nothing has been officially announced yet. 2024 is expecting to air soon after Yellowstone‘s conclusion.
“Within five years, we grew ‘Yellowstone’ from a hit U.S. cable show with five million viewers into a global hit franchise with over 100 million fans around the world and multiple extensions – and, we’re just getting started,” said Chris McCarthy, president and CEO of Showtime & MTV Entertainment Studios. “On the heels of ‘1883’ and ‘1923’s’ success, our new planned spinoffs, ‘1944’ and ‘2024,’ will take audiences on a thrilling, new and unexpected journey with the complex and compelling storytelling that has become a hallmark of the franchise and has helped turn it into a worldwide cultural phenomenon – thanks to the creative mastermind of Taylor Sheridan.”
“The global success of ‘Yellowstone’ continues to thrill and excite us at 101 Studios and Bosque Ranch. This has been such an exhilarating ride with our partners at MTV Entertainment Studios and we can’t wait to bring ‘1944’ and ‘2024’ to audiences everywhere,” said David Glasser, CEO of 101 Studios.
Are you eager for the second half of Yellowstone‘s final season? What do you think of the new spin-off announcements? Let us know on our social channels at @flickeringmyth…
Ricky Church – Follow me on Twitter for more movie news and nerd talk.
