Yellowstone (American TV series)
Yellowstone is an American neo-Western drama television series created by Taylor Sheridan and John Linson that premiered on June 20, 2018, on Paramount Network. The series stars Kevin Costner, Luke Grimes, Kelly Reilly, Wes Bentley, Cole Hauser, Kelsey Asbille, and Gil Birmingham. The series follows the conflicts along the shared borders of the Yellowstone Ranch, a large cattle ranch, the Broken Rock Indian reservation, Yellowstone National Park and land developers. The fifth season will be its last and is followed by a sequel series titled 2024.[1] The first part of the fifth and final season premiered on November 13, 2022, with the second part scheduled to premiere on November 10, 2024.[2][3]
Yellowstone
- Kevin Costner
- Luke Grimes
- Kelly Reilly
- Wes Bentley
- Cole Hauser
- Kelsey Asbille
- Brecken Merrill
- Jefferson White
- Danny Huston
- Gil Birmingham
- Forrie J. Smith
- Denim Richards
- Ian Bohen
- Finn Little
- Ryan Bingham
- Wendy Moniz
- Jennifer Landon
- Kathryn Kelly
- Moses Brings Plenty
- Brian Tyler
- Breton Vivian
United States
English
5
47 (list of episodes)
- John Linson
- Art Linson
- Taylor Sheridan
- Kevin Costner
- David C. Glasser
- John Vohlers
- Michael Polaire
- Gary D. Roach
- Evan Ahlgren
37–92 minutes
- Linson Entertainment
- Bosque Ranch Productions
- Treehouse Films
- 101 Studios (season 2–5)
- MTV Entertainment Studios (season 4–5)
June 20, 2018 –
present
In 2013, Sheridan began work on the series, having recently grown tired of acting and switched to screenwriting. Having lived in the rural parts of states such as Texas and Wyoming, Sheridan set the series in Montana and set the first scripts in Livingston. Sheridan initially pitched the series to HBO, but the network declined. In May 2017, Paramount Network announced that it had greenlit its first scripted series, Yellowstone. Paramount issued a series order for a first season consisting of ten episodes. The series was set to be written, directed and executive-produced by Sheridan.
A prequel series titled 1883 (2021–2022) was announced following a five-year deal signed by Sheridan with ViacomCBS and MTV Entertainment Group. The series focuses on a generation of the Dutton family during the Old West as they undertake the arduous journey across the country before settling the land that would become the Yellowstone Ranch. A second prequel series titled 1923 (2022–present) focuses on an intervening generation of the Dutton family during the time of Western Expansion, Prohibition, and the Great Depression. A third planned spin-off titled 6666 is also in development and is set in the present day on the Four Sixes Ranch in Texas. A further fourth spin-off titled 1944 was confirmed by Paramount in early 2023.
Premise[edit]
The series follows the Dutton family, owners of the largest ranch in Montana, the Yellowstone Dutton Ranch, commonly called "the Yellowstone". The plot revolves around family drama at the ranch and the bordering Broken Rock Indian Reservation, Yellowstone National Park, and developers.[4]
Production[edit]
Development[edit]
In 2013, Taylor Sheridan began work on the series, having grown tired of acting and begun writing screenplays. Having lived in the rural parts of states such as Texas and Wyoming, he set the series in Montana and went about writing the first scripts in Livingston.[7] Sheridan originally wrote Yellowstone as a film, pitching it as "The Godfather in Montana".[8] He initially pitched the series to HBO, but the network declined.[9]
In May 2017, Paramount Network announced that it had greenlit its first scripted series, Yellowstone. Paramount issued a series order for a first season consisting of ten episodes. The series was set to be written, directed, and executive-produced by Sheridan. Other executive producers were to include John Linson, Art Linson, Harvey Weinstein, and David Glasser. Production companies involved with the series were set to consist of Linson Entertainment and The Weinstein Company.[4]
In October 2017, it was announced that following reports of sexual abuse allegations against producer Harvey Weinstein, his name would be removed from the series' credits as would The Weinstein Company.[10] In January 2018, Kevin Kay, president of Paramount Network, clarified during the annual Television Critics Association's winter press tour that Yellowstone will not have The Weinstein Company's credits or logo on them, even though that company was involved in production. He stated that their intent is to replace Weinstein Television with the company's new name in the show's credits when available.[11] That same day, it was announced that the series would premiere on June 20, 2018.[12]
In July 2018, it was announced that Paramount Network had renewed the series for a second season that was expected to premiere in 2019.[13] In March 2019, it was announced that the second season would premiere on June 19, 2019.[14] In June 2019, the series was renewed by Paramount for a third season, which premiered on June 21, 2020.[15][16] In February 2020, Paramount Network renewed the series for a fourth season, ahead of the premiere of its third season.[17] The fourth season premiered on November 7, 2021.[18] In February 2022, Paramount Network renewed the series for a fifth season, which will be split into two installments.[19][20][21] The fifth season premiered on November 13, 2022.[22] In May 2023, Paramount announced that Costner would be leaving the series at the end of Part 2 of Season 5. The second part of the fifth and final season is scheduled to premiere on November 10, 2024.[2][3]
Casting[edit]
In May 2017, it was announced that Kevin Costner had been cast in the series lead role of John Dutton.[23] In June 2017, it was reported that Luke Grimes, Cole Hauser, Wes Bentley, and Kelly Reilly had joined the main cast.[24][25] In July 2017, it was announced that Kelsey Asbille had been cast in a main role.[26] In August 2017, it was reported that Dave Annable, Gil Birmingham, and Jefferson White had been added to the main cast while Wendy Moniz, Gretchen Mol, Jill Hennessy, Patrick St. Esprit, Ian Bohen, Denim Richards, and Golden Brooks were joining the cast in a recurring capacity.[27][28][29][30]
In November 2017, it was announced that Michaela Conlin and Josh Lucas had been added to the cast in recurring roles.[31][32] In December 2017, it was reported that Heather Hemmens was joining the cast in a recurring capacity.[33] In June 2018, it was announced that Barret Swatek had been cast in a recurring role.[34] In September 2018, it was announced that Neal McDonough was joining the cast of season two in a recurring capacity.[35] In July 2021, it was announced that Jacki Weaver, Piper Perabo, Kathryn Kelly and Finn Little were joining the cast in the fourth season.[36] In February 2022, it was announced alongside the fifth season renewal that Jennifer Landon and Kelly were promoted to series regulars for the season.[20]
Costume Designer[edit]
In August 2017, Oscar-nominated costume designer Ruth E. Carter joined the production team, but soon departed at the end of the first season.[37] Designer Johnetta Boone then joined the production crew for the start of the second season.[38]
Filming[edit]
Principal photography for the series began in August 2017 at the Chief Joseph Ranch in Darby, Montana, which stands in as the home of John Dutton. Filming also took place that month near Park City, Utah. The production used all three soundstages at the Utah Film Studios in Park City, which is a total of 45,000 square feet. The building also houses offices, editing, a wardrobe department and construction shops. By November 2017, the series had filmed in more than twenty locations in Utah, including the Salt Flats, Promontory Club, and Spanish Fork. Additionally, filming also took place at various locations in Montana. Production reportedly lasted until December 2017.[39][40]
In August 2020, the series announced that filming was completely moved to Montana. An undisclosed production location was rented in Missoula, Montana.[41] Film locations included the Community Medical Center, Ryman Street near the County Courthouse, and a diner (Ruby's Cafe) on Brooks Street in Missoula, as well as places in nearby Hamilton, Montana.[42]
Filming for season 5 started in June 2022 in Missoula.[43] In July 2023, filming was put on an indefinite hold during the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike.[44]
Reception[edit]
Audience viewership[edit]
Viewership of the series has grown with subsequent seasons.[65] The season 3 premiere attracted 7.6 million viewers, and the season 4 premiere tallied 12.7 million viewers.[9] The season 5 premiere garnered 12.1 million viewers.[66] The show has been called a "Heartland drama"[66] and "red state" drama,[67][68][69] a label which Sheridan himself disputes.[9]
Critical response[edit]
Following its premiere, the show was met with a mixed response from critics. Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the first season a score of 54 out of 100 based on 27 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews".[70] On the review aggregation website Rotten Tomatoes, the first season holds a 56% approval rating, with an average rating of 5.8/10 based on 52 reviews. The website's critical consensus of the first season reads, "Yellowstone proves too melodramatic to be taken seriously, diminishing the effects of the talented cast and beautiful backdrops."[71]
The second season holds an approval rating of 89%, based on 9 reviews.[72] The third season holds an approval rating of 100% based on reviews from 7 critics.[73] The fourth season holds a 91% approval rating based on reviews from 11 critics. The critical consensus for that season reads, "Hitting its stride as a predictably unpredictable oat opera, Yellowstone continues to entertain with its tough-as-rawhide characters and modernized perspective on classic cowboy tropes."[74] The fifth season earned an 84% approval rating based on 38 reviews. The critical consensus for that season reads, "Galloping into the arena of politics with a decidedly nonpartisan bent, Yellowstone enters uncertain territory but remains firmly in the saddle, with Kevin Costner's steadfast presence remaining an invaluable asset."[75]