So… Are We Getting Yellowstone Season 6 or What?
Alright, rip the band-aid off: Yellowstone season 6 isn’t happening. At least not how you’re thinking. The show ended with season 5 back in December 2024, and that’s it for the main storyline.
I know, I know. It sucks. But hold on before you rage-quit this article.
The finale wrapped up the Dutton family’s whole battle for the ranch. Taylor Sheridan, the guy who created all this, decided that was the right spot to end things. And yeah, Kevin Costner leaving definitely forced their hand on how to finish it up. That whole situation was messy from start to finish.
What We’re Getting Instead
Here’s the thing though – the Yellowstone world isn’t dead. Not by a long shot.
There’s a New Show Coming
They’re working on a continuation series. Some folks are calling it the Yellowstone season 6 we should’ve gotten, but it’s really its own thing.
What I’ve heard so far:
- Matthew McConaughey might be the lead (though that keeps changing)
- It’s moving away from the original Dutton story
- Still set in the same world we’ve been watching
- Nobody’s saying much about when we’ll actually see it
My guess? Late 2025 at the earliest, maybe 2026. But who knows. Hollywood timelines are basically made up.
The 1944 Show
There’s also another prequel coming called 1944. This one goes way back to show the Duttons during World War II.
Honestly? I’m kind of here for it. 1883 and 1923 were both really good, and they made the main show make way more sense. So yeah, I’ll watch it.
The Kevin Costner Drama
We can’t talk about why Yellowstone season 6 didn’t happen without getting into the Costner situation.
The guy was literally the center of the entire show. When he and the producers couldn’t figure out a deal – something about scheduling with his Horizon movies – everything fell apart.
What that meant for the show:
- Writers had to completely redo the final season
- Other characters like Beth and Kayce had to carry more weight
- They had to figure out an ending without John Dutton
- Fans got pretty split on whether it worked or not
My two cents? It wasn’t ideal. Some parts worked, some didn’t. But what were they supposed to do? You can’t exactly replace John Dutton with someone else and pretend everything’s fine.
Why Paramount Pulled the Plug
Here’s what a lot of people miss: the money side of things.
Paramount’s going through some weird changes with their streaming stuff. Yellowstone started on regular TV but got caught in this annoying place between cable and Paramount+.
The business reasons matter:
- The show costs a fortune to make
- Paramount+ needs big exclusives to keep up with Netflix
- Cable’s dying while streaming keeps growing
- A season 6 didn’t make financial sense without Costner
So instead of throwing more money at the original show, they’re betting on spinoffs. New shows mean new subscribers. That’s the whole game now.
The Rest of the Yellowstone Shows
Good news is we’re not running out of content anytime soon. Taylor Sheridan’s basically building a Western empire.
What’s Out There:
1883 – The first prequel. Tough to watch sometimes but really well done.
1923 – Helen Mirren and Harrison Ford are perfect in it. Season 2’s coming eventually.
6666 – Texas ranch spinoff that’s been “coming soon” for like two years now.
Bass Reeves – Same creative team, kind of connected to the universe.
Point is, even without Yellowstone season 6, there’s plenty to watch. Sheridan’s not slowing down anytime soon.
What Fans Actually Think
I’ve been lurking in way too many Reddit threads and Facebook groups about this. People are all over the place.
Some fans think the show got robbed of a proper ending. They wanted a full season 6 to really close everything out right. The finale felt rushed, especially with how fast some storylines wrapped up.
Other people are totally fine with it ending. Better to go out strong than limp along for three more mediocre seasons.
The main gripes:
- Not enough time with certain characters
- The last season felt half-baked without John Dutton
- Too many questions left hanging
- Sad we won’t see the original cast together again
What’s getting people hyped:
- New stories that aren’t just repeating the same stuff
- Getting to explore more of this world
- Matthew McConaughey possibly showing up
- Characters who got sidelined getting their moment
Here’s What I Really Think
Look, would I have loved Yellowstone season 6 with everyone back? Sure. But I get why it didn’t work out.
Sometimes shows need to end. Not everything has to run until it’s terrible. The Dutton story got to a stopping point, even if it wasn’t the exact ending we pictured back in season 1.
What I’m curious about now is whether these spinoffs can actually deliver. The prequels showed that this universe works beyond just the main show. If they bring that same energy to whatever’s next, we might end up with something pretty cool.
How to Keep Up With News
If you want to know about future Yellowstone stuff right when it drops:
- Check Taylor Sheridan’s production company updates
- Watch Paramount+ announcements
- Follow the cast on social media for clues
- Keep an eye on the big entertainment news sites
Things change constantly in this business. What’s happening today might be completely different next month.
Bottom Line
So here’s the deal: Yellowstone season 6 isn’t coming in the traditional sense. Season 5 was the last one for the main show, and the Dutton family story we’ve been following since 2018 is done.
But the world’s still there. Spinoffs and prequels are expanding everything. Whether that works for you depends on what you loved about the original.
If you were all about the Duttons specifically, the ending probably feels incomplete. If you just loved the setting, the themes about land and family, and those incredible Montana shots, there’s still more coming.