One question that is probably in the back of many Yellowstone fans’ minds, even if they may not know it yet, concerns how many more seasons the hit Western is going to last. Someone who has tremendous insight into answering that question is none other than Yellowstone’s co-creator Taylor Sheridan, and he has weighed in with his current thoughts on the matter.
Not too long ago, the Oscar-nominated writer entered into a pretty sweet development deal with ViacomCBS’ Entertainment & Youth Brands. It is fair to say that life for Taylor Sheridan, at least professionally speaking, is looking pretty good indeed. So, how many more seasons of the Kevin Costner-starring Yellowstone will get fit into that picture? When asked about how many more it could have, Sheridan told Deadline:
Well, I know how it ends. I know how the series ends, and you have to move in a straight line toward that end. You can’t walk in circles, waiting to get there, because the show will stagnate. So, you have to keep moving forward, and there have to be consequences in the world, and there has to be an evolution toward a conclusion. Can that be another two seasons beyond this? It could. I don’t see this as a procedural show. So, it’s not something that we could extend indefinitely. I don’t think anyone would want to do that; you’d cheapen the product. I haven’t had that conversation with the network or the studio yet. I’m sure it’s coming, but I would think that you would want this to end on an upswing as opposed to a plateau or a descent.
Taylor Sheridan’s answer indicates that Yellowstone has a specific endgame that it is heading towards. The co-creator hints that there could be at least two more seasons in store, though that number isn't officially set in stone or anything. Plus, it's unclear if he is talking about those two seasons being on top of the already greenlit Season 4, or if he thinks Season 5 might be the swan song. Either way, Sheridan’s goal (like Ozark’s) seems clear: don't overstay the natural TV life expectancy.
As a massive Yellowstone fan, the truth is that I could see the show having an extended run that could match even that of Law & Order: SVU. Yes, that is definitely unrealistic. Still, though, Taylor Sheridan’s answer does connect nicely with what was previously said last year by Keith Cox, Paramount Network and TV Land’s President of Development and Production.
At the time, Keith Cox said that Taylor Sheridan had an ending planned that would take Yellowstone’s core family over “many seasons.” With Season 3 still continuing to ramp up, Sheridan’s response certainly gels with that statement. Yellowstone is absolutely a show that Paramount Network should want to keep around, considering it's got the biggest viewership and demo ratings on cable right now.
Even before its second and third seasons were set to air, Yellowstone had already scored season renewals. The show has also garnered its share of celebrity fans, including Blue Bloods’ Donnie Wahlberg, who tweeted his excitement for Yellowstone’s return after its Season 3 trailer was released. Nevertheless, the cruelty of TV is that all good shows must eventually come to an end for one reason or another.
It's fascinating to know that Taylor Sheridan already has a general idea for how everything ends. It means the stories fans are watching are inching every character ever-closer to their conclusions. In terms of romance, I hope that entails a happy ending for Monica and Kayce, as well as Beth and Rip. Two more seasons can go by in a flash, and when you are dealing with a show has tremendous as Yellowstone, saying goodbye at any point is a really bittersweet thought.
Tune in when new episodes of Yellowstone air new throughout the summer on Sundays at 9 p.m. ET on Paramount Network. If you want to enjoy the magic that Taylor Sheridan and the Yellowstone crew have made so far, you can watch the first two seasons when they become available on NBCUniversal’s upcoming streamer, Peacock, which launches nationally on July 15.
