Since 2018, the cowboy-themed neo-Western Yellowstone has lassoed the hearts of viewers. Despite initially stumbling, the series quickly saddled up under the visionary direction of its co-creator, Taylor Sheridan, cultivating an immensely loyal fan base with every twist and turn.
Built brick by brick into a television dynasty that could give John Dutton’s (Kevin Costner) Dutton empire a run for its money, the show has become Paramount Network’s shining star.
![Kevin Costner may not return for Yellowstone Season 6.](https://fwmedia.fandomwire.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/28042034/image-44-354.png)
And the million-dollar question on everyone’s lips is: What’s the future of Yellowstone after Season 5 Part 2? Well, reports are suggesting that the potential sixth season is galloping our way. However, there’s a catch—Costner may not be riding along for the journey.
Ergo, not all fans are eager to hitch their wagon to this new direction, with many grumbling that the show is “over without” The Untouchables star.
Yellowstone Eyes Season 6 Without Kevin Costner, Focuses on Kelly Reilly & Cole Hauser
‘Good things come to those who wait’, and it looks like Yellowstone fans might be in for another treat. Despite initial plans to wrap up with the second half of Season 5 this November, tales are swirling about a possible sixth season for the beloved neo-Western drama series.
Negotiations are reportedly in the works, according to Deadline and Puck, with Cole Hauser (Rip Wheeler) and Kelly Reilly (Beth Dutton) being the prime candidates to steer the show’s future after Kevin Costner’s exit was confirmed.
As for the future, Hauser, 49, has kept his cards close to his chest. The actor informed Country Living:
I’m so focused on finishing Yellowstone the way it needs to be finished right now — well, just the show itself. We’ll see where that leads. But I know that there’s some stuff on the horizon when it comes to Taylor’s ideas for Kelly Reilly and myself, and some of the other cast. I’m excited to see where he goes creatively with that.
![The narrative of a potential sixth season might shift to Beth Dutton (Kelly Reilly) and Rip Wheeler (Cole Hauser).](https://fwmedia.fandomwire.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/28042216/image-44-355.png)
The show paints a vivid picture of the Dutton family, battling both external foes and internal dramas. Meanwhile, Paramount recently announced that Michelle Pfeiffer will take the reins in a new Yellowstone spinoff, The Madison.
The Dutton saga doesn’t stop here, though. 1883, the first spinoff, took us back in time with Faith Hill and Tim McGraw as James and Margaret Dutton, charting their perilous journey from Texas to Montana. 1923, another prequel, saw Helen Mirren and Harrison Ford as Cara and Jacob Dutton, recounting their own epic trek to Montana.
Yellowstone: Fans Skeptical About Season 6 Without Kevin Costner
![Many fans worry the show won’t be the same without Costner.](https://fwmedia.fandomwire.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/28042255/image-44-356-1024x531.png)
They say, “When the cat’s away, the mice will play”, and having said that, when the king of the ranch exits stage left, can the show still ride high? That’s why fans are kicking up a storm as Yellowstone seems to have hit a fork in the road without its iconic lead, Kevin Costner.
The fanbase is in an uproar, feeling like their favorite show is missing its secret sauce, with many worried that the new creative directions might be steering the series away from what made it special.
Let’s take a closer look at what fans are saying:
In March, when the prospect of a sixth season was tossed into the ring, Kelly Reilly shared her thoughts with RadioTimes:
I just care about finishing [the main show] with as much care and as much passion and as much love as I can muster to put into it. That’s what I care about.
She added a pinch of skepticism regarding the future:
There are discussions, you know. Don’t believe everything you read. It’s just nonsense. But we’re gonna, you know, let’s wait and see. I don’t have an answer right now. But we’ll see.
Will the remaining cast and fresh creative directions keep the ranch rolling, or will Taylor Sheridan’s show end up out in the cold? The series also stars Wes Bentley, Kelsey Asbille, Ryan Bingham, Wendy Moniz, Gil Birmingham, and Luke Grimes.
Yellowstone Season 5’s second part will air on November 10, 2024.
Yellowstone is currently streaming on Paramount+.