Yellowstone Season 6: If you thought that you finally had the future of Yellowstone figured out, get ready to think again. Longstanding reports about spinoffs, Matthew McConaughey-led sequels, and Kevin Costner’s dramatic exit from the show seemed to set a clear path for the conclusion after the show’s fifth season. However, in a quite surprising twist, reports are fresh that suggest that Yellowstone might not be done just yet. News broke over a report from Puck’s Matthew Belloni claiming Paramount is reportedly considering a possible Yellowstone Season 6.
This is a bombshell that will set fans buzzing for sure, particularly with news that fan favorites Cole Hauser (Rip Wheeler) and Kelly Reilly (Beth Dutton) are reportedly in talks. This is despite Paramount not confirming the same, but plenty of speculation and winds of excitement fly through what is on the horizon for this beloved series.
Here’s everything we know so far about Yellowstone Season 6-including the latest on cast negotiations, potential plotlines, and what it all means for the Yellowstone universe going forward.
The Road to Season 6: A Surprising Turn of Events
Months of hype have steeled fans for the conclusion of Yellowstone. With Kevin Costner’s exit from the series amid all this chaos, and with these spinoffs and a second series sequel as “ancillary,” it was hard not to assume anything other than it had to be over with Season 5. The final episodes do come in 2024, though, so it should most likely be the Dutton family’s last hurrah.
But everything changed when a new report emerged that perhaps Yellowstone could return for a sixth season. A Matthew Belloni report in Puck set off speculation, and Variety soon followed up on those claims. Suddenly, a long-proposed Season 6 might now be a very real debate within Paramount walls.
Table: Key Details About Yellowstone Season 6
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Release Date | TBD (Pending Official Announcement) |
| Main Cast | Kelly Reilly (Beth Dutton), Cole Hauser (Rip Wheeler), Kevin Costner (TBD) |
| Potential Storylines | Dutton Ranch’s future, John Dutton’s legacy, Beth and Rip’s relationship |
| Number of Episodes | Expected to be 8-10 episodes |
| Filming Status | Not yet confirmed |
| Spinoff Connections | Potential tie-ins with The Madison and other Yellowstone spinoffs |
| Network | Paramount Network, streaming on Paramount+ |
Kevin Costner’s Exit: What Went Wrong?
Many have called for Kevin Costner to leave Yellowstone, but for quite some time now. Scuttlebutt over scheduling conflicts, creative differences, and even Kevin wanting to move on for other projects, which included his film Horizon, was many’s thinking that he was done with his days as John Dutton.
Out goes Costner, and in goes the opinion that the main Yellowstone series is done. Now that this theory of a Season 6 is to become reality, renewed chatter over whether Costner might return-even in a reduced capacity-is back. While nothing’s been confirmed, speculation about the actor returning for one final ride as John Dutton is sure to have fans both hopeful and cautious.
Will Kelly Reilly and Cole Hauser Return as Beth and Rip?
The best news coming out of this season of upgrades around Yellowstone is that the actors who play breakout fan favorite characters Beth Dutton, Kelly Reilly, and Rip Wheeler, Cole Hauser, have been reported to be in final talks with Paramount to return for Season 6. Beth and Rip have been central to the emotional core of the show and their complicated relationship provided some of the show’s most memorable moments.
Role for Beth Dutton Going Forward
And then, of course, there’s Beth Dutton. Ruthless, intelligent, and fiercely loyal to her family, she has almost overnight become one of the most iconic figures in television. Kelly Reilly is excellent playing the role, but audiences have all been desperate to know what in store is for Beth.
With a sixth season still very much an option, the door remains open for Beth to continue to reign supreme as the sharp-tongued protector of the Dutton legacy. How that story moves forward in a new season could be entirely dependent on how the final episodes of Season 5 go, but this much is sure: Beth is not a character who fades into the background.
Rip Wheeler’s Return
Another very famous character of the show is Rip Wheeler, portrayed by Cole Hauser. He is one of the most consistent characters in the Yellowstone story, trusted right-hand man to John Dutton and Beth’s husband. With his rugged charm and unwavering loyalty, he has won everyone’s respect and love. The potential return of Hauser in Season 6 implies that Rip’s adventure is far from getting over. Whether he continues to protect the ranch, or new challenges ahead with Beth, Rip’s presence within a probable sixth season will make viewers continue watching.
John Dutton’s Legacy
Since day one, the different talking points of this series involved John Dutton’s legacy. This is because John is a dad and the patriarch of this Dutton family whose decisions would have great bearing on his children but even further implications for the future of the ranch. Having Kevin Costner still to be penciled in for Season 6, it remains to be seen how this show would reflect upon John’s legacy.
If Costner is coming back even in a limited capacity, John would probably struggle with what has been left to him and the future he’s leaving behind. Or, if the exit is permanent for Costner, the focus of Season 6 may lie in how the Dutton family operates after him.
Beth and Rip: A power couple
Beth and Rip are the heart and soul of Yellowstone so far and their relationship is going to likely be huge in any seasons coming forward. Season 6 could get deeper into the marriage as they try to run the ranch and protect their family’s legacy.
With both characters known for their strong personalities and unwavering loyalty to each other, fans can expect more intense and emotional moments between Beth and Rip if the show continues.
Spin-offs and sequels: What’s The Madison?
But new rumors circulating around Yellowstone Season 6 aside, Paramount announced another new spinoff series yet, this one titled The Madison, starring Michelle Pfeiffer and Lost’s Matthew Fox, and the Yellowstone universe continues to expand.
The Madison will follow another new set of characters who are not affiliated with the Duttons but who somehow relate to the larger world that Taylor Sheridan opened up in his work. Until now, some plot details are left undisclosed, but fans are already speculating about how this new series will fit into the timeline of Yellowstone.
how the Madison affects Yellowstone season 6
With the announcement of The Madison, the question lies, whether Yellowstone Season 6 could center more around the Duttons or if the focus of the show lies in this new production. Paramount has already budgeted to expand the Yellowstone universe, and it would not be weird for Season 6 to act as a middle ground between the original show and the spinoffs to come, such as The Madison.
In any event, Paramount is mum on how much of an overlap it plans on between the parent show and its spinoffs. The Madison will have some new players and some new storylines, of course-but anything goes because familiar faces from the Yellowstone cast could be spiffed in at any given time.
Future of the Yellowstone Universe
Even if Yellowstone Season 6 is to be the very last chapter for the story of the Dutton family as we have known it, Taylor Sheridan’s Yellowstone universe has so far merely begun. Besides The Madison, other spin-offs are already in the development stage. 6666 will focus on the historic Four Sixes Ranch in Texas.