Yellowstone Universe shows: Key Information
– There are currently 3 shows that have finished their run, and 5 planned series in the Yellowstone Universe
– Shows that have already aired are: Yellowstone, 1883 and 1923
– Future shows are: 1944, a Beth and Rip Wheeler drama, The Madison, Y: Marshals and 6666
– Paramount’s CEO told showrunner Taylor Sheridan: “We can just make this his [Sheridan’s] home for as long as he wants to tell stories.
The success of neo-Western Yellowstone has now become so mighty, that the Yellowstone Universe is now starting to rival that of DC Comics or Marvel; a host of sequels, spin-offs, prequels and other series to arrive over the next few years, all mined from the original IP.
The five-season show – fronted by Kevin Costner – kicked off on Paramount+ in 2018, and showrunner Taylor Sheridan evolved it into an even bigger pop-culture juggernaut when the first prequel series, 1883, launched in 2021.
Executive producer David Glasser told Variety at the time that there were big hopes for the Dutton Ranch franchise: “I think this universe as we’ve seen, with the success of 1883, it can grow and it can have other offshoots and build out a world around it. We’re going to keep our head down and keep making the content and hopefully audiences and our peers will recognize it the way they have been.
Keep ‘em coming, said David Ellison, Paramount’s CEO, buoyed by the roaring cowboy-centred hits: “We can just make this his [Sheridan’s] home for as long as he wants to tell stories.” In July 2025, Paramount took the commitment even further, when it was announced that Sheridan and Paramount were launching 450,000-square-foot production studios in Fort Worth, Texas.
But with so many TV shows coming from the same original series, it can get confusing as to what is what. So here, in chronological order as to when they’re set, is every show in the Yellowstone Universe, including series that have already been broadcast – and everything we know about future shows due to launch soon:
1883
The prequel series – set in the same year of its title – tells the story of how the Duttons managed to establish their Yellowstone ranch and the show began Paramount+ on December 2021. It starred Sam Elliott, Tim McGraw, Faith Hill, Isabel May and LaMonica Garrett, and had some pretty stellar guest spots too, including Tom Hanks, Billy Bob Thornton, Rita Wilson and even a cameo from the show’s creator, Taylor Sheridan.
The action follows the post–Civil War generation of the Duttons as they leave Tennessee and make the journey to Fort Worth, Texas, and join a wagon train undertaking the arduous journey west to Oregon, before finally settling in Montana.
1883 was a limited, 10-part series that finished in February 2022. Paramount’s commission of further episodes was reversed as they decided to focus on a sequel instead, 1923. Sheridan told Deadline that he considered 1883 done and dusted as the series ended: “We wanted to make a ten-hour movie that ended, and that’s what we did.”
1923
Another sequel series, set 40 years after 1883, that focuses on the challenges faced by the Duttons – in this case, the spectacular duo of Helen Mirren as Cara Dutton and Harrison Ford as her husband, Jacob Dutton.
If you’ve even a passing interest in American history, you’ll know that it was a turbulent time and the shock waves of the Prohibition, a drought and the early stages of the Great Depression hit Montana just as badly as elsewhere in the country.
The cast of 1923 also boasted Brandon Sklenar, Julia Schlaepfer, Jerome Flynn, Darren Mann and Isabel May, who once again reprised her role as narrator, Elsa Dutton.
In the end, 1923 ran for just two eight-episode seasons – and the exorbitant costs might have had something to do with this. Each episode was estimated to have cost $30-35 million to make, and Sheridan told Deadline: “I would argue that 1883 was the most expensive first season of a TV show ever made. This was much more expensive. Much more expensive.”
1944
This new historical prequel will have the life-altering event of World War II at its centre, and will explore the Dutton’s family experiences during that era. But details on this series are extremely scant at the moment, and there’s only really been the confirmation of the series announced back in November 2023, when it was also announced that Yellowstone would be wrapping up.
As for plot and characters, In previous storylines, we’ve been told that Spencer Dutton fought in the first World War before 1923, meaning that it’s possible that his son, John Dutton II, will fight in World War II. And we could possibly see a return from Spencer too. Actor Brandon Sklenar told Variety: “I know they’re planning on doing 1944, and maybe we’ll see Spencer in 1944. I would be interested in doing it. I love this character.”
There’s no release details as yet for this, but we’ll update when we know more.
Yellowstone
The original series that birthed the entire, hefty universe. Yellowstone – co-created by Taylor Sheridan and John Linson – premiered in September 2018 on the Paramount Network, and ran for five seasons, until it ended for good in December 2024.
Kevin Costner was the star talent here, playing John Dutton III, Governor of Montana and owner of one of the biggest cattle ranches, Dutton Ranch, in America, and the audience took the tales of family, legacy and the and the clash between old and new ways of life in the American West to heart, and the show stealthily built up a huge fan base.
But Costner dropped a bombshell in June 2024, and announced he was leaving the series, saying on his Instagram account: “Thinking about Yellowstone, that beloved series that I love, that I know you love. I just realized that I’m not going to be able to continue, season five or into the future.”
But, on the show went, the season 5 premiere pulled in 12.1 million viewers, and Costner departed at the end of part one of season 5.
Beth and Rip Wheeler drama
Not called Dutton Ranch, as some first predicted – the title is still actually still TBA – but this series, set in the present day after the end of Yellowstone, will see Kelly Reilly and Cole Hauser back in their legendary roles of Beth Dutton and Rip Wheeler. Finn Little who plays Carter will also be returning.
Deadline has reported that the spin-off will pick up where season five ended, which saw (spoiler alert) Dutton being sold to the Broken Rock Reservation. It will be “led by Yellowstone characters, played by the same actors in the same present-day time frame; the new offshoot shares the most DNA with the mothership of any shows in the Yellowstone universe to date.”
Bloomberg says to expect a late 2025 launch sometime in September, October and November for this one, but the network is still yet to reveal an exact date.
The Madison
The Madison – previously titled 2024 – is a present day spin-off, which will follow the McIntosh family, originally from New York City, who live in the Madison River valley of central Montana.
It’s being fronted by by Michelle Pfeiffer as Stacy Clyburn, the mother of two daughters, one who marries into the wealthy McIntosh family, and also features the likes of:
- Patrick J. Adams as Russell McIntosh
- Elle Chapman as Paige McIntosh
- Matthew Fox as Paul
- Beau Garrett as Abigail Reese
- Amiah Miller as Bridgette Reese
- Ben Schnetzer as Van
- Kevin Zegers as Cade
- Rebecca Spence as Liliana Weeks
- Alaina Pollack as Macy
- Danielle Vasinova as Kestrel
Filming began in September 2024 and wrapped by the end of the year, which means it won’t be long to wait until this one hits the screens, but there’s no exact date released yet. However, it’s predicted for the end of 2025, or the beginning of 2026.
Deadline have also reported that The Madison has already been picked up for a second season, such is the faith that the network has in Sheridan.
Y: Marshals
Y: Marshals (apparently still a working title) is the spin-off with Luke Grimes as Kayce Dutton. With his days at the ranch behind him, Kayce joins an elite unit of U.S. Marshals, combining his skills as a cowboy and Navy SEAL to bring range justice to Montana. Alongside themes of family, duty and loyalty – issues that run deep at the heart of every show in the Yellowstone universe – Dutton will find out, the logline promises, the “high psychological cost that comes with serving as the last line of defense in the region’s war on violence.”
Alongside Grimes, the only other cast member confirmed so far is Logan Marshall-Green (last seen as Adam in And Just Like That…) would join the cast alongside Grimes. He will play Pete Calvin, a military veteran whom Kayce befriended during his time in the Navy SEALs.
The 13-episode show will be broadcast on CBS, and is pencilled in for late 2025 or early 2026.
6666
Paramount announced back in February 2021 that 6666 (again, likely a working title) was currently in development, and slated to be broadcast on Paramount+.
“Founded when Comanches still ruled West Texas, no ranch in America is more steeped in the history of the West than the 6666,” the announcement explained of the concept behind the series. “Still operating as it did two centuries before, and encompassing an entire county, the 6666 is where the rule of law and the laws of nature merge in a place where the most dangerous thing one does is the next thing… The 6666 is synonymous with the merciless endeavor to raise the finest horses and livestock in the world, and ultimately where world class cowboys are born and made.”
The show will take place at the real 6666 (“Four Sixes”) ranch in Texas. It was featured in season 4 of Yellowstone, with Jimmy Hurdstrom (Jefferson White) sent to work there, so while no cast have been confirmed as yet, it’s likely that it will be led by White and could potentially feature Jefferson White: as Jimmy Hurdstrom and Kathryn Kelly: as Emily, Jimmy’s girlfriend. But there’s no confirmation of the period this show will be set in – a historical era, or present day.
There’s also no release date as yet, but updated news announced that it will now be broadcast on Paramount Network first, and that the series will be executive produced by Sheridan, John Linson, Art Linson, David Glasser, Ron Burkle and Bob Yari.
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