“Yellowstone” Expands with New Spin-Off Featuring Kelly Reilly & Cole Hauser

The upcoming Season 5 finale of Yellowstone will not mark the end of the Dutton family’s story. Kelly Reilly and Cole Hauser, who have become fan favorites as Beth Dutton and Rip Wheeler, have closed deals to lead a new spinoff series, with both actors reprising their roles. Taylor Sheridan, the creative force behind Yellowstone and its expanding universe, is overseeing the development of this new show, which is expected to feature additional cast members from the flagship series alongside Reilly and Hauser.

This new spinoff, which will be set in the same present-day time frame as Yellowstone, will be the closest in tone and continuity to the original series. As a result, it will be the first Yellowstone offshoot to carry the iconic name in its title. This move aligns with the growing interest in continuing the Dutton family’s saga, and with the show’s lasting popularity, it offers a seamless transition for fans invested in the ongoing storylines.

Before the Yellowstone Season 5 finale airs this Sunday, there had been much speculation about what comes next for the characters still alive at the end of the episode. Sources reveal that Yellowstone producers MTV Entertainment Studios and 101 Studios had been in talks with Reilly and Hauser for several months, exploring the possibility of a spinoff. At one point, it seemed possible that the duo could carry on as leads for a potential Yellowstone Season 6 after the anticipated departure of Kevin Costner’s John Dutton.

In fact, Paramount Network had initially promoted Season 5B as the final chapter of Yellowstone, but quietly changed that messaging when the teaser for the sub-season dropped in June, positioning the new episodes as part of an “epic return.” The recent promotional materials have also referred to the upcoming finale as a “season finale,” not a series finale, indicating that the show’s narrative may continue in a different form.

Though the possibility of another season of Yellowstone has not been ruled out, it seems the focus has shifted toward creating this new series as a way to keep the story within Paramount Global’s ecosystem. This would also circumvent the exclusivity deal that Yellowstone has with NBCUniversal’s Peacock for streaming.

For context, Yellowstone centers on the Dutton family, owners of the largest contiguous cattle ranch in the U.S. Reilly’s character, Beth, is the fiercely determined daughter of John Dutton, while Hauser’s Rip Wheeler is the rugged ranch foreman who has a deep bond with John, having been taken in as a young man after a troubled past.

Season 5B has been marked by significant drama, including the death of John Dutton and the aftermath, with several characters, such as Denim Richards’ Colby and Dawn Olivieri’s Sarah, meeting tragic ends. Meanwhile, the fate of the ranch hangs in the balance, with a new governor pushing to break up the property for development—a move that John Dutton fiercely opposed. Tensions are rising as John’s son, Kayce (Luke Grimes), seems to be devising a plan to save the ranch for future generations, prompting Beth to reflect, “Why didn’t I think of that?”

With Yellowstone continuing to draw massive viewership—Episode 4 of Season 5B, which featured Colby’s death, attracted 12.1 million viewers—the series remains a major cultural and ratings juggernaut. In fact, Hauser recently sparked fan speculation by posting a photo from the final days of shooting, raising questions about which characters will make it to the end of the episode.

Yellowstone, co-created by Taylor Sheridan and John Linson, is produced by MTV Entertainment Studios, 101 Studios, and Paramount Global Content Distribution. Alongside the flagship series, the Yellowstone franchise includes the prequels 1883 and 1923. The first contemporary spinoff, The Madison, starring Michelle Pfeiffer, is also slated to follow the conclusion of Season 5B.