One dayYellowstoneis ending, the next it’s returning for season 6, andreports claim that (as of the writing of this article) season 6 is back ondespite Paramount’s announcement that season 5 would be its last and Kevin Costner’s exit. The neo-Western drama premiered in 2018 and has run for five successful seasons, withYellowstoneseason 5, part 2, scheduled to premiereon June 05, 2025. Despite its accomplishments, Paramount previously stated that the TV series would end in late 2024 following the end of season 5. However, that is seemingly no longer the case.
The upcomingYellowstonespinoffs include1923season 2,6666,1944,andThe Madisonstarring Michelle Pfeiffer.
TheYellowstonefranchisehas gone through many ups and downs over the course of the last two years. FromCostner’s departure to production delays related to the 2023 strikes,Taylor Sheridan’s TV showhasn’t exactly had luck on its side as of late. Nevertheless, the universe continued to grow with spinoffs, and the future looked somewhat bright despite the parent series ending. But, with recent news surrounding the possibility ofYellowstoneseason 6, it appears as though the original show is back on track and will continue leading the franchise for years to come.
Yellowstone Season 6 Is Reportedly Happening
Paramount Network Previously Announced Yellowstone Season 5 Would Be Its Last
According toTVLine,Yellowstoneseason 6 is reportedly happening. As mentioned above, the Paramount Network announced in the spring of 2023 that season 5 would be the neo-Western drama’s final outing. That continued to be the case up until a few months before the season 5, part 2 premiere. Now, it seems as thoughParamount is considering uncancelingYellowstoneand continuing its story without Kevin Costner’s John Dutton III. The network has yet to confirm this report, but it wouldn’t be surprising if it were true given the show’s success and who is rumored to be involved with season 6.
Yellowstoneseason 5, part 2
1923season 2
6666
1944
Pre-production (filming is rumored to begin in late August 2024)
2025
Along with the news thatYellowstoneis likely to continue with season 6, the report claims thatKelly Reilly and Cole Hauser will take over as the leads in the wake of Costner’s exit.Reilly stars as Beth Dutton, while Hauser plays Rip Wheeler, Beth’s husband, inYellowstone. Like Costner, the two actors have been around since the beginning, and given their characters' arcs and significance to the show’s story, it makes sense whyReilly’s Beth and Hauser’s Rip will be the ones to carry onYellowstone’s legacy.
Why Sheridan Is Continuing Yellowstone Even Without Kevin Costner
The Previously Reported Yellowstone Sequel Will Likely Just Be Season 6
The news surrounding the possibility ofYellowstoneseason 6 ultimately makes sense given the previous reports concerning a sequel series. For those who don’t know,Paramount was supposedly planning aYellowstonesequel serieswith the intention ofbringing back Kelly Reilly as Beth Dutton, Cole Hauser as Rip Wheeler, and Luke Grimes as Kayce Dutton.The network never confirmed these rumors, nor did any of the actors verify their returns following season 5, part 2. So, nothing was ever made official, meaning that the sequel series wasn’t a guarantee.
Perhaps [Kevin] Costner’s controversial exit fromYellowstoneinitially informed Paramount’s decision to cancel it and start anew with a sequel series featuring the same characters aside from John Dutton II.
Instead of producing a separateTV show set in theYellowstoneuniverse,Taylor Sheridan and Paramount will seemingly decide to turn the sequel series into season 6.Rather than complicate matters by adding another show to the franchise, the original series will likely just continue (even without Kevin Costner). PerhapsCostner’s controversial exit fromYellowstoneinitially informed Paramount’s decision to cancel it and start anew with a sequel series featuring the same characters aside from John Dutton II. But now, the network will reportedly reverse that verdict and greenlight season 6.
Yellowstone Spinoff’s Latest Cast Actor Is More Exciting Than Michelle Pfeiffer & Patrick J. Adams
Another exciting actor has joined the cast of the upcoming Yellowstone spinoff The Madison alongside Michelle Pfeiffer and Patrick J. Adams.
How Yellowstone Season 5, Part 2 Can Explain Costner’s Absence Moving Forward
Yellowstone Must Write Costner’s Character Out Of The Show In Season 5, Part 2
Even though Kevin Costner’s name undoubtedly lured in much ofYellowstone’s audience, the neo-Western drama now has an established and loyal fanbase. Many enjoy characters who aren’t John Dutton III (withRip and Beth being among theYellowstonefan favorites). Consequently, the series can survive without Costner. Still, John’s absence must be explained, and there are many avenues for the writers to take.John could die, leave Montana for some reason, or go to prison.Whatever the case, the show will go on without Costner, even after John leavesYellowstone.
Yellowstone
Cast
Yellowstone follows the Dutton family, led by patriarch John Dutton, as they defend their expansive ranch against external threats from land developers, an Indian reservation, and America’s first national park. Released on August 24, 2025, this series examines the complex dynamics and violent conflicts surrounding the largest contiguous ranch in the United States.
