Since its debut in 2018, Yellowstone has become one of the biggest and most influential series on television, yet the show’s future lies not in continuing the original story, but with its many successful spin-offs. Following the trials and tribulations of the Dutton family, Yellowstone and its supplementary shows take an uncompromising look at life in rural Montana, never shying away from brutal depictions of the physical and financial threats that fill the state. However, while the main series has consistently focused on patriarch John Dutton and his children, the franchise’s future actually lies elsewhere.
For much of Yellowstone‘s five-season run, the story has seen John face off against a wide range of adversaries. Whether it’s the plans of Machiavellian investment fund Market Equities to build an international airport over his land, or the villainous Beck brothers’ successful attempt to kidnap his grandson, life defending the Yellowstone certainly has its difficulties and its dramas. However, while the events around the ranch have offered plenty of intrigue for audiences until now, it’s becoming clear that the main Yellowstone story is reaching a natural conclusion. In order to survive, Yellowstone needs to evolve and leave John Dutton behind.
Yellowstone Has Created A Successful Franchise Universe
One of the most impressive things about Taylor Sheridan’s cowboy epic is how Yellowstone‘s rich in-universe history has laid the groundwork for other stories to be told. While the contemporary adventures of the modern Duttons are fascinating, understanding the family’s history with the landscape, the local people, and ranching as a way of life is often just as compelling. The fact that Yellowstone‘s characters are so driven by the past naturally creates the perfect environment for spin-offs set in different time periods. As such, it’s perhaps unsurprising that Yellowstone has spawned arguably one of TV’s most successful small-screen franchise universes.
Shows such as 1883, 1923, and the upcoming Bass Reeves all help build and enhance the mythology of Yellowstone, yet can also be enjoyed in isolation. For instance, while knowing that the Yellowstone Dutton Ranch will become the biggest ranch in Montana creates effective dramatic irony in both 1883 and 1923, the characters in both shows are strong and interesting enough to thrive on their own merits. This means that Yellowstone spin-offs are extra successful as they are not dependent on the original show – a template that the universe can continue to use moving forwards.
It’s also worth considering that, for now at least, each Yellowstone spin-off has been received extremely warmly. Compared to the original series, which took some time to find its feet, 1883 and 1923 have been critical hits, with 89% and 92% on Rotten Tomatoes respectively. This shows how, now that Yellowstone has successfully hewn a niche, other stories set in the same world are really able to thrive. Given how many other successful shows have tried and failed to create a legacy like this, this situation should not be taken for granted.
John Dutton’s Yellowstone Story Is Coming To A Natural End
Legacy and aging have always been key themes in Yellowstone. Ever since season 1, when John Dutton’s health concerns bubbled malignantly under the surface, the core question of who will inherit the empire has remained tantalizingly unanswered. While John’s whims and the backstabbing of his children have made for thrilling drama, there comes a time when the saga must resolve its key issue. Keeping John as the linchpin in perpetuity, rather than providing a steadying presence, actually ensures it stagnates. If there is a flaw with Yellowstone, it’s that its cyclical nature can make it feel repetitive. Keeping John in the picture indefinitely doesn’t solve this.
Beyond the show’s narrative, however, a potential issue for John Dutton and Yellowstone‘s future is actor Kevin Costner. As per Deadline, reports indicate that Costner is unhappy with his extensive commitment to the show – reportedly wanting to cut his filming days from 65 to 50. As such, it has been suggested that creator Taylor Sheridan is planning to finish Yellowstone in its current incarnation with season 5, before focusing on a new Matthew McConaughey-led spin-off. Irrespective of McConaughey’s potential involvement, Costner’s supposedly waning interest in Yellowstone could be further indication that its time for John Dutton’s story to end. This provides the perfect opportunity for Yellowstone to radically reinvent itself.
Matthew McConaughey Would Be A Perfect Yellowstone Spinoff Lead
Should the stories around Matthew McConaughey prove to be true, there can be little doubt that he would thrive in the Yellowstone universe. Like Costner, McConaughey is an acclaimed big-screen actor whose known for charismatic, fully-committed performances. Whether it’s his Oscar-winning turn in Dallas Buyers Club or his scene-stealing role in Martin Scorsese’s The Wolf of Wall Street, McConaughey has consistently proven that he has the dramatic heft to helm a project like Yellowstone.
Beyond his movie work, however, perhaps the best case for McConaughey’s involvement in a Yellowstone spin-off is his performance as Rust Cohle in the acclaimed True Detective season 1. As a maverick homicide officer investigating a mystery serial killer, Cohle is one of the most iconic characters from the show, and McConaughey’s depiction won deserved critical acclaim. In effectively realizing Cohle’s inner darkness, McConaughey proved he can play nuanced, layered leading men on TV, making him perfect for whatever direction the Yellowstone universe decides to go in next. Given how John Dutton’s complications and contradictions have been central to making the show a success, finding someone who can continue to embody these qualities is essential for the Yellowstone franchise.
Yellowstone’s Future Lies Beyond The Main Show
Part of what gives Yellowstone its power is its obsession with a mythologized history. Whether it’s Thomas Rainwater pining for a lost home, Lloyd Pierce reminiscing about cowboying in a bygone era, or John Dutton himself haunted by his wife and the life he could have had, the past drives and defines the narrative. Because of this focus, exploring this history and how the world of Yellowstone came about is actually a natural evolution for the series.
As John Dutton himself consistently remarks, Yellowstone is the kind of place that attracts enemies and conflict. Although the five main Yellowstone seasons since 2018 have had no shortage of drama, it’s safe to assume that the preceding 140 years have many more stories to tell. Rather than refusing to let its main characters find peace, Yellowstone would be well-served by letting its main story reach a natural conclusion in order to expand and switch its focus. Ironically, if the show wants to succeed moving forwards, Yellowstone must instead look further backwards.
Yellowstone season 5 returns in 2023
