‘Yellowstone’ Likely To End, McConaughey May Replace Costner In Spin-Off

Taylor Sheridan, co-creator of the hit TV series Yellowstone, is in the process of ending the show over time commitment issues with the show’s star, Kevin Costner. Sheridan is now said to be looking to expand the franchise, and possibly cast Matthew McConaughey as the lead.

Reports say that Paramount Network has rejected Costner’s recent proposal addressing shooting time, and will instead be pursuing a sequel with McConaughey as the lead. While McConaughey has yet to confirm or deny rumors, he is said to be in ongoing negotiation with Paramount Network.

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The current issue with Yellowstone production is a disagreement with Costner, who plays John Dutton, over shooting schedules. Costner is currently directing and starring in his series Horizon, which he is working on with Warner Bros. Pictures and New Line. Sources say that Costner had originally dedicated himself to 65 days of shooting, but during the filming of the first part of the fifth season changed his mind and only wanted to shoot 50 days. For the second part of the fifth season which has yet to air, Costner only wants to shoot for a week.

Yellowstone is Paramount’s top-rated drama and has been an enromous success for the past several years, but it is not Paramount’s only successful show. The prequel series 1883 and 1923 have made the network less dependent on Yellowstone and gives them more freedom to create and change the franchise.

1883, which stars Tim McGraw, Faith Hill and Sam Elliot was also wildly successful and premiered in late 2021 to tell the story of how the Dutton’s came to own the ranch.

1923, which stars Harrison Ford and Helen Mirren premiered in late 2022 and is slated for a final season depicting the struggles of the Great Depression and Western Expansion.

The new show will initially air on Paramount Network, then move exclusively to Paramount+.

Details on whether the series will include members of the old cast such as Luke Grimes, Kelly Reilly, Wes Bentley, Kelsey Asbille and Gil Birmingham have not yet been released. Whether or not the show will be set on the Dutton ranch is also unclear.