Yellowstone Universe expands with five new series in the works, extending the cowboy saga across past, present, and future
The Yellowstone Universe is spreading its wings with a mix of sequels, prequels and present-day spinoffs. After Yellowstone and its early forays into 1883 and 1923, Paramount has lined up five more series that will further flesh out the Dutton world. Here’s what’s on the slate and what we know about each project.
Finished and current shows
– Yellowstone: The flagship series that kicked off the universe in 2018, detailing the battles over land, family and power around the Dutton Ranch. The show concluded its run in 2024 after five seasons, with Kevin Costner departing the series partway through Season 5.
– 1883 and 1923: Prequel stories that trace the Dutton lineage back to their origins and the challenges they faced as they carved out a ranching empire in new territories. Both titles have already aired, establishing the tone and scope for the expanding universe.
Upcoming and in development
– 1944: A new historical prequel centering on the Dutton family during World War II. This installment would build on the family’s history after 1923, potentially linking to the era explored by Spencer Dutton. Details are sparse, but it’s positioned as a bridge to future chapters in the family saga.
– Beth and Rip Wheeler spin-off (untitled): Set in the present day after the events of Yellowstone, this series would follow Beth Dutton and Rip Wheeler as a central pairing. Finn Little is expected to return, and the show is anticipated to launch in late 2025, though an exact date hasn’t been announced.
– The Madison: A present-day drama focusing on a wealthy New York–based family, the McIntosh clan, who establish roots in Montana’s Madison River valley. The cast includes Michelle Pfeiffer as Stacy Clyburn and a notable lineup including Patrick J. Adams, Elle Chapman, Matthew Fox and others. Filming wrapped in 2024, and Deadline/production sources have signaled a likely release toward the end of 2025 or early 2026. The Madison has already been renewed for a second season, underscoring confidence in Sheridan’s universe.
– Y: Marshals (working title): Centered on Kayce Dutton and his transition to a high-stakes role with a U.S. Marshals unit, this series promises the same themes of family, loyalty and duty that permeate the Yellowstone world. Luke Grimes is set to star as Kayce, with Logan Marshall-Green joining the cast. The 13-episode series is planned for late 2025 or early 2026 and will air on CBS.
– 6666 (working title): A dedicated series set at the Four Sixes ranch in West Texas, a real historic site that was featured in Yellowstone. This show would tell stories from a rival ranching world and is expected to explore a long-running, rugged West environment. Cast details are not confirmed, but the project is tied to the core team behind Yellowstone, including Sheridan and other executive producers. It’s planned to premiere on Paramount Network first, with no firm release date yet.
Context and production notes
– The Yellowstone Universe is evolving into a sizeable, interconnected ecosystem, with Paramount executives signaling a long-term commitment to expanding Sheridan’s world. The growth is framed as a way to keep telling stories about power, place and family across American landscapes.
– Production expansion: In a move to support this growing portfolio, Paramount announced the creation of a massive new production complex in Fort Worth, Texas—an estimated 450,000-square-foot facility aimed at accelerating filming and creating a regional hub for the universe’s future projects.
– Franchise logic: The lineup spans historical eras (1883, 1923, 1944), contemporary life (The Madison, Beth and Rip Wheeler), and new frontier settings (Y: Marshals, 6666). This breadth aims to keep the universe fresh while leveraging the familiar Dutton mythos.
Chronology of setting (how the shows fit in time)
– 1883: The earliest Duttons’ origin story, moving from Tennessee toward the West.
– 1923: A later prequel detailing the challenges of the Duttons in the early 20th century.
– 1944: A WWII-era prequel that follows the family into a much later historical moment.
– Yellowstone: The core present-day drama that begins the modern Dutton era, now concluded.
– The Madison, Beth and Rip Wheeler spin-off, Y: Marshals, and 6666: Present-day stories or future-set tales that extend the franchise beyond the original timeline.
Cast and creative notes
– The Yellowstone universe continues to draw on familiar faces—Beth Dutton, Rip Wheeler and Kayce Dutton remain central figures in their respective new projects, while new characters and real-world locations (like the Four Sixes ranch) are introduced to expand the storytelling toolkit.
– The move to multiple platforms—Paramount Network, Paramount+, and CBS—reflects a strategy to reach broad audiences while offering different formats and tones within the same universe.
What this means for viewers
– For fans: A sprawling slate means more opportunities to dive into the Dutton family saga across eras and geographies. Viewers can expect crossovers in tone and theme, with recurring motifs—loyalty, power, and the struggle between tradition and progress—woven through every installment.
– Viewing approach: Given the time jumps and new settings, fans may opt to watch by era (origin stories first, then mid-century tales, followed by modern-day spin-offs) or follow by platform releases as schedules firm up.
A hopeful note
Paramount’s bold expansion of the Yellowstone Universe signals strong faith in Taylor Sheridan’s storytelling and in viewers’ appetite for Western-centric drama that combines family drama with high-stakes power plays. The investment in a large Texas production campus also suggests a long horizon for these projects, potentially delivering a rich, interconnected slate for years to come.
If you’d like, I can add a concise reader-friendly summary, a suggested watch order by timeline, and quick bios for the key new series to help readers navigate the expanding universe.