It’s the Beginning of the End for Taylor Sheridan’s Yellowstone Empire

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Taylor Sheridan’s popular series of Western dramas might be facing trouble. It all began with Yellowstone in 2018, which quickly became a hit and launched a whole universe of related shows. Prequels like 1883 and 1923 were just as successful, encouraging Sheridan to create even more series set in the same world, including The Madison, Dutton Ranch, Y: Marshals, and others.

Taylor Sheridan, the creator of hit shows like Yellowstone, is likely leaving Paramount Pictures when his contract ends in 2028. For years, his partnership with Paramount, particularly the Yellowstone franchise, has been very successful. Reports suggest he’s considering a deal with NBCUniversal to develop new series, hoping to repeat the success he’s had with shows like Yellowstone, Mayor of Kingstown, Landman, and Tulsa King. While this move could benefit both Sheridan and NBCUniversal, it could pose significant challenges for the future of the Yellowstone universe.

What Taylor Sheridan’s Departure Means for Yellowstone

The future of the Yellowstone franchise could be in trouble. Taylor Sheridan has been the driving creative force behind Yellowstone and its prequel series, serving as creator, showrunner, and head writer. With his contract with Paramount ending soon, it’s likely he’ll move on, leaving the future of the shows in the hands of new writers and showrunners. This puts all upcoming Yellowstone shows in a difficult spot, as they’ll need to attract viewers even with a different creative vision than what fans are used to. Without Sheridan’s guidance on existing and new projects, audiences will have to decide if they’ll continue to watch the Yellowstone universe long-term.

Even though Taylor Sheridan is stepping back, Paramount plans to continue the Yellowstone universe. The original series and its prequels, 1883 and 1923, were huge hits, and the studio hopes the upcoming spinoffs—Y: Marshals, Dutton Ranch, and The Madison—will be just as popular. Sheridan will help guide these shows initially, but eventually, someone else will need to take over as the main creative force. This could be one person replacing Sheridan, or a team of showrunners, each with their own vision. A team approach seems more probable. As the franchise expands, having different showrunners could be beneficial, allowing each series to develop its own unique style. For example, Y: Marshals will be a procedural drama, while The Madison will likely resemble the original Yellowstone in tone. While it’s not ideal to lose the creator behind such a successful franchise, Paramount is optimistic about the future. There will likely be challenges as the universe evolves without Sheridan, but that doesn’t mean it can’t continue to thrive.

How Yellowstone Could Continue Without Taylor Sheridan

Now is the perfect time for Taylor Sheridan to move on from Yellowstone. The main story of the Dutton family concluded with the show’s fifth season, and the connected series exploring the family’s history is also nearing its end with the upcoming 1944, which will connect the prequel stories to the original show. While new spinoffs will continue the Dutton saga, the first chapter of the franchise has reached its conclusion. Sheridan’s exit will be a challenge for Yellowstone, but it allows the expanding universe to forge its own path, free from relying on his specific writing style. He seems to have been preparing for this, handing over creative control of the new series to other showrunners while taking on a more advisory role. Spencer Hudnut is leading Y: Marshals, and Chad Feehan will oversee Dutton Ranch. Sheridan remains involved with The Madison and 1944, but it’s unclear if he’ll step away completely if those shows get renewed.

Paramount will soon discover if the success of Yellowstone relies solely on its creator, Taylor Sheridan, or if viewers will continue to tune in even without him. While Sheridan’s departure is a major challenge, it won’t necessarily end the franchise. If the planned spinoffs maintain the quality and appeal of the original series, Yellowstone has the potential to continue for years to come. By balancing familiar faces with fresh stories, the future of Yellowstone still looks promising even after its creator moves on.

Is It the Beginning of the End for Yellowstone?

The creators are optimistic about continuing the Yellowstone universe for years to come, but a key question is whether the stories will stay engaging. For seven seasons, viewers followed the Dutton family and their fight to hold onto their ranch, a story that reached a clear ending with the land returning to the Broken Rock Reservation – fulfilling a century-old agreement. While shows like Y: Marshals and Dutton Ranch continue the story, they’ll face a challenge keeping audiences interested. To succeed, these new series need to create storylines as captivating as the original Yellowstone. This is a common problem for long-running TV franchises. We’ve seen shows like The Walking Dead struggle to justify spin-offs, with some feeling repetitive. Yellowstone aims to avoid this, but it’s still uncertain whether they can maintain the same level of success with these new shows.

The future of the Yellowstone universe hinges on shows like The Madison, which explore fresh stories within the same world but aren’t directly tied to the original series. The Madison marks a new direction for spinoffs, moving beyond the Dutton family’s conflicts, even though it shares the same setting. Other shows in the works, such as 6666, appear to be heading in the same direction, expanding Taylor Sheridan’s television universe. If these new shows do well, they could create long-running storylines that match the popularity of the Dutton family saga, ensuring the Yellowstone franchise continues for years to come.

Yellowstone is streaming on Peacock.

1883 and 1923 are streaming on Paramount+.

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2025-10-29 22:11