Yellowstone season 5 is set to wrap up with its final few episodes in the fall of 2024, and some of its chief characters should cross over into the planned sequel series, 2024. The new series will follow the pattern of the Yellowstone prequels 1883 and 1923 and focus on the Dutton family as it existed in that year. That should place the events of 2024 directly after the overarching narrative of Yellowstone finishes. While Kevin Costner will not be involved, A-listers like Matthew McConaughey, Michelle Pfeiffer and Kurt Russell have all been connected to the series at different points.

As welcome as fresh blood will be to the new series, the prospect of many beloved characters from Yellowstone getting extra time for their stories to play out is even more exciting. Kevin Costner’s departure from Yellowstone to pursue his passion project Horizon: An American Saga forced show creator Taylor Sheridan to hit the gas on wrapping up all the lingering story lines in just a few episodes. While Sheridan is one of the few drama writers who may be able to pull that off satisfyingly, having Yellowstone characters return in 2024 can only be good for their character arcs.

1

Rip Wheeler

The ranch’s last defender

Although technically not a member of the Dutton family, head rancher Rip Wheeler was christened a son of John Dutton both by John’s own admission and via his marriage to Beth Dutton. Rip is undoubtedly one of Yellowstone‘s most popular characters, as his gruff and violent exterior hides a generous and genuinely good man. Given a second chance at life by John Dutton, Rip is the Yellowstone Ranch’s most fervent defender, as he is willing to do whatever it takes to protect the ranch itself and the Dutton family.

Now that Cole Hauser is among the three stars from Yellowstone who have officially signed on for the sequel series, it appears he will in fact make it out of the back half of season 5. The sequel series will need to explore Rip’s new role on the ranch; with John Dutton out of the picture, Rip doesn’t really answer to anyone else. If Kayce opts not to take over the ranch, it’s possible that Rip winds up running it via Beth’s inheritance (even though she claims she wants to sell it).

2

Beth Dutton

The fierce daughter of John Dutton

Beth often walks the line between hero and villain in Yellowstone, as her fierce loyalty to her father often begets an outlet for her cruel nature. Beth is fearless, smart, and ruthless, and easily one of the most interesting characters in Yellowstone. It’s only natural that she would come back for the sequel series, and Kelly Reilly has also already signed on to return alongside Cole Hauser for the sequel series.

John Dutton’s death seems all but certain, perhaps right at the beginning of season 5, part 2. If he dies of something other than the cancer that he’s dealt with in the past, Beth will most assuredly be leading the hunt for vengeance for the sake of her father. If that isn’t resolved in the final few episodes of Yellowstone, that could be something explored in 2024. She still has unfinished business with Jamie to sort out in Yellowstone, so vengeance for her father’s death could very well spill over into the sequel series.

3

Kayce Dutton

The would-be heir of the Yellowstone

Luke Grimes is the third Yellowstone cast member who has already signed on for 2024. That means Kayce Dutton will make his return, and he has one of the most potential-laden current story lines that could be picked up in the sequel series. As of the mid-season finale, Kayce had a job offer pending from Thomas Rainwater to act as a special investigator on the Broken Rock Reservation. Kayce giving up his share of the ranch to solve crimes and crack skulls on the reservation sounds like a great spinoff in its own right.

However, Kayce’s story in the sequel series is heavily dependent on the outcome of Yellowstone season 5 part 2. Kayce is John’s heir to the ranch, as Beth doesn’t want it, Jamie is persona non grata on the ranch, and Lee is dead. Kayce will ultimately need to make a choice once and for all about whether to take on the ranch and pass it down to his son Tate, or to walk away once and for all to pursue his own life. The sequel series will undoubtedly deal with the repercussions of his choice.

4

Monica Dutton

The oft-conflicted mother and wife

Kayce’s wife Monica has spent much of Yellowstone fighting to keep her son and husband free of the violence and tragedy that surrounds the Duttons’ ranch, to very little effect. As a descendant of the Indigenous Crow tribes that lived on the land that is now the Yellowstone Ranch and Broken Ranch Reservation, she also cares deeply for her people. She has taught college students the real version of history as opposed to the whitewashed version found in many textbooks, and even used herself as bait to trap a serial killer targeting young Indigenous girls.

Should Kayce decide to forsake the Yellowstone ranch and take a job on the reservation, Monica has plenty of potential to join him in his efforts to keep her people safe. Her character can help provide the valuable Indigenous perspective necessary in a neo-Western like Yellowstone, even if actress Kelsey Asbille Chow is not herself a member of the Indigenous population. Her ever-evolving relationship with Kayce is a thread that should be maintained in the sequel series.

5

Tate Dutton

The future of the Dutton family

Tate is not yet old enough to take over the Yellowstone himself, but even in his young age he’s shown a desire to follow in John Dutton’s footsteps. Tate could become an integral part of the sequel series as seemingly the only true descendant of the Dutton line. With his father Kayce already confirmed to return, it’s all but certain that Tate (Breckin Merrill) will return as well. The sequel series 2024 will need to explore the implications of his inheritance if it’s going to effectively carry over the major story from Yellowstone.

6

Walker

The multi-talented cowboy

Walker, played by recording artist Ryan Bingham, is a fan favorite from Yellowstone, and is a great candidate to appear not only in the sequel series but another project from the overarching Yellowstone universe. Prior to working at the Yellowstone and jail time, Walker worked at the 6666 Ranch in Texas, widely regarded as the capital of cowboying in the South. That ranch is where Jimmy Hurdstram (Jefferson White) is now working, and will be the setting of the spin-off series 6666.

Walker would be a natural fit to appear in 6666 should he be allowed to leave the Yellowstone ranch permanently. While he and Rip have had problems since he was first branded, Walker has since earned Rip’s trust as a reliable hand on the Yellowstone ranch. Add in the fact that Ryan Bingham’s music is a perfect fit for the Yellowstone universe’s aesthetic, and Walker seems like a slam dunk choice to return in 2024.

7

Angela Blue Thunder

The dangerous business consultant

An under-explored character from the Broken Rock Reservation is Angela Blue Thunder (Q’orianka Kilcher), the business consultant that Thomas Rainwater brought in to help him in his expansion of the reservation. Angela has since turned on Rainwater, citing his ineffectiveness as a leader for the people of Broken Rock, and has made moves to replace him as Chairman of the Reservation. Very little about her backstory has been revealed, but Yellowstone did provide a tease that there is more to explore:

She’s not evil, Mo. She’s just angry and trying to punish the world for everything it did to her.

If Gil Birmingham doesn’t return for 2024, Angela Blue Thunder carries a ton of potential as a new primary figure in Broken Rock. She could bring far more animosity and far more firepower to bear than Rainwater ever did against the Duttons, and could be set up as a tremendous threat to the ranch and the surviving Duttons, even if her goals and intentions are well-justified. The sequel series offers a great opportunity to further explore her mysterious past and diabolical present.

8

Carter

The heir to Rip’s throne

Yellowstone has barely scratched the surface with Carter (Finn Little), the young man who was orphaned when his father died thanks to a life of drug use. He was essentially adopted by Rip and Beth, and is following in the footsteps of Rip as a troubled young man who finds comfort and purpose in the work of the Yellowstone ranch. Carter and Tate have already been shown together, and the sequel series could explore the impact their friendship has on the future of the ranch, especially if Tate does inherit the ranch following John’s assumed death.

9

Teeter

The foul-mouthed ranch-hand

Jen Landon’s Teeter is not only one of the most accomplished hands on the Yellowstone, she is also one of the most entertaining personalities. Her brutal Texas accent makes her speech nigh-unintelligible, but since her arrival she has become a valued member of the Yellowstone ranch bunkhouse. She has developed a genuine love for Colby, and their relationship has barely been touched on; it will almost certainly not be treated with any urgency as Yellowstone tries to wrap up in just a few episodes. Teeter brings the heart and levity that a violent action-drama desperately needs, and should return.

10

Senator Lynelle Perry

The legislative guardian of Montana

The former governor of Montana is now a senator for the state in Washington, and is already up to her neck in problems when it comes to defending Montana. At the Yellowstone season 5 break, she was gearing up to fight against a new pipeline that is planned to run right under the Broken Rock water reservoir. She should return in the sequel series, given that she acts as an anchor for the political maneuverings surrounding the ranch. In Yellowstone, that was an important part of the narrative, and that is likely to continue in 2024.