‘Yellowstone’ could end after season 5, with Matthew McConaughey continuing Dutton saga

The Western drama “Yellowstone” could end after five seasons.

Show creator Taylor Sheridan, Paramount Global and Paramount Network are reportedly “moving to end their signature show in its current form,” according to Deadline Hollywood on Monday. The entertainment industry news site reported Monday that a potential franchise extension to continue the Dutton saga could happen with Matthew McConaughey in a leading role.

“We have no news to report. Kevin Costner is a big part of “Yellowstone” and we hope that’s the case for a long time to come. Thanks to the brilliant mind of Taylor Sheridan, we are always working on franchise expansions of this incredible world he has built. Matthew McConaughey is a phenomenal talent with whom we’d love to partner,” a Paramount Network spokesperson told the Star-Telegram.

Deadline reports that Costner, who had originally limited himself to 65 days of shooting on “Yellowstone,” only wanted to shoot for 50 days for the first part of the current season and a week for the second batch of season five episodes.

The Hollywood Reporter reports they confirmed Deadline’s article Monday.

Fort Worth has seen its share of “Yellowstone” action in recent years.

The prequel series “1883” filmed scenes in the historic Fort Worth Stockyards and in Granbury in 2021. During filming, the roads were covered in dirt and store facades were made to look like they did during the late 1800s.

Season five of “Yellowstone” premiered at Downtown Cowtown at the Isis Theater in the Stockyards in November. Sheridan said he turned down premiere locations in California and New York, instead favoring Cowtown.

“They said we’re gonna do a premiere in LA, are you gonna come? I said, ‘No,’” Sheridan said. “Well, we’re having a premiere in New York, you gonna come? I said, ‘No.’ They said, Dallas? I said, ‘How about 36 miles west?’”

Sheridan and actor Cole Hauser, who plays Rip Wheeler on the show, met hundreds of fans and signed autographs during the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo on Friday. Retail booths selling “Yellowstone” and 6666 Ranch merchandise were open during the stock show, giving fans an opportunity to shop the look of the series.

Now, the spin-off series “1883: The Bass Reeves Story” is set to film in Fort Worth, Glen Rose and Weatherford.

“1883: The Bass Reeves Story” is about the first Black deputy U.S. Marshal west of the Mississippi River. The limited series will be directed by Sheridan and will star David Oyelowo as Bass Reeves.