Kevin Costner’s upsetting ‘Yellowstone’ departure and the speculated

Matthew McConaughey spin-off could bring forth the franchise’s new era.

Taylor Sheridan and John Linson-created neo-Western drama

Yellowstone is reported to conclude with its fifth season,

but the Yellowstone-verse isn’t slowing down anytime soon.

While initial plans suggested the continuation of the present iteration beyond five seasons, the show’s future halted when behind-the-scenes issues involving scheduling disputes and payment conflicts dictated the grounds for Kevin Costner’s reported exit from the show.

Amid a mid-season hiatus with the second half slated for a November 2024 premiere, the amount of screen time that Costner will get in Season 5 Part 2 is a mystery, with the extent of his participation also murky.

Although fans of the neo-Western premise have undoubtedly been disappointed by the string of unfortunate developments, the Dutton dynasty has and will continue to evolve into a media universe, branching out into additional prequels and spin-off series, demonstrating that there remains more to see and enjoy from the creative mind of Taylor Sheridan.

Among these, one planned sequel and presumed-to-be follow-up, with Hollywood superstar Matthew McConaughey in talks to lead, is rumored to hit the screens after Yellowstone concludes. This opens up numerous possibilities—acting as a blessing in disguise during a seemingly precarious scenario.

Matthew McConaughey’s Yellowstone Sequel Could Offer A Fresh Perspective

According to THR, the Matthew McConaughey-led spinoff, tentatively titled “2024,” will take place in the present and premiere after the main series’ conclusion. The sequel will delve further into the legacy of the Dutton family dynasty. If everything falls into place, it will signal the start of a new era in the Yellowstone-verse. While there hasn’t been an official word on the Interstellar star’s casting, reports from last year suggested that the 54-year-old was in late-stage negotiations.

It’s crucial to keep in mind that although Paramount Network’s decision to cancel Yellowstone beyond the existing seasons is presumably attributed to the increasing tension between Costner and showrunner Taylor Sheridan following the lead actor’s diminishing commitment to filming for the show due to scheduling conflicts, the Dances with Wolves star’s departure may have been for the best.

This is not to say that it would have been unpleasant to have the patriarch play John Dutton III in the now-scrapped plans for Season 6. Most fans would’ve entertained the idea, considering how much of a shock Costner’s departure and Paramount’s announcement of the main series wrapping up with Season 5 has been.

However, intending to ride the wave of success surrounding an endeavor with hopes of spawning further installments can often lead to jumping the shark—reaching an exhaustive point past a project’s prime. It’s uncertain if the Costner-starrer would have experienced the same outcome, but most esteemed, critically acclaimed TV shows with numerous seasons have frequently been dealt such a fate.

Therefore, even without the central figure, Costner’s exit could allow the series, with its established universe branching off into spin-offs, prequels, and a sequel, to usher in a new, fresh era.

Instead of focusing on the what-ifs and what could’ve been, Matthew McConaughey’s reported incorporation as the follow-up’s lead could promise audiences fruitful returns—especially considering the skills possessed by the actor to breathe life into anything he touches.

Matthew McConaughey’s Return To Prestige TV Could Be Taylor Sheridan’s Best Gamble

After his mind-blowing performance in True Detective, Hollywood A-lister Matthew McConaughey proved that his charm works wonders beyond the film medium, especially in prestige TV. Critics couldn’t get enough of McConaughey’s Rustin Cohle and occasionally singled out his performance as the series’ standout. Should his speculated Yellowstone stint include the same prowess we witnessed in the HBO crime drama, ‘2024’ would become an instant classic.

Besides, continuing the main series and developing Season 6 without Kevin Costner would’ve been a blunder. As it is, the possibility of the series’ final episodes not featuring the lead star has stirred concerns in the hearts of dedicated fans. If the show keeps going beyond his departure, with a potential replacement stepping into his shoes (literally or figuratively), we can only imagine what the reception would be.

Therefore, the decision to have Yellowstone conclude with Season 5 will benefit the overarching premise and the project as a whole in the long term. Much of the draw of the show was attributed to Costner. In many ways, he had been the face of the neo-Western drama. Without him, branching off into prequels and sequels to keep Yellowstone‘s memory and legacy alive is Taylor Sheridan’s best gamble and presumably the only way forward.

Information on ‘2024’ is presently scarce. Official word on McConaughey’s casting, role, and place within the universe are still pending.

Yellowstone (2018-present) is available for streaming on Peacock.