Yellowstone marked a successful partnership between Kevin Costner and Taylor Sheridan, with one being the face of the Dutton family and the other the brains behind the hit Western.
The show, with no shortage of on-screen cowboys and drama, experienced a fair amount of behind-the-scenes tension between the show’s creator and star that could even result in the courts getting involved. In short, the two just don’t see eye to eye. They sat down for talks that did not go well, with Sheridan refusing to meet Costner’s demands and Sheridan allegedly backing out of an agreement to shoot seasons 6 and 7.
Speaking about the situation and Costner’s new project, Sheridan revealed:
‘He took a lot of this on the chin and I don’t know that anyone deserves it. [Horizon] seems to be a great priority to him and he wants to shift focus. I sure hope [the movie is] worth it — and that it’s a good one.’
6 New Westerns on the Horizon
From partners to lone rangers, Sheridan and Costner part ways, each with the intention of creating the next best Western after Yellowstone. Let’s start with what’s in store for the creator of Yellowstone:
1. 6666
Sheridan’s 6666 will follow Jimmy, a familiar face to Yellowstone fans, and serve as a continuation of the original and a further exploration of the historic 6666 Ranch and the making of great American cowboys. Part of the synopsis for the unreleased show reads:
‘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.’
6666 could possibly be released sometime this year.
2. 2024
Sheridan’s potential follow-up to Yellowstone, 2024, is currently in pre-production, but we expect it to star some of the original Dutton family cast. For over a year, Matthew McConaughey has been the frontrunner for the lead role, but the actor has become frustrated with the contracting process and will not sign on until he sees the script, which he is still waiting for.
2024 has a good chance of continuing the growth of the Yellowstone universe, which means the pressure is on for Sheridan to keep the momentum going (and get McConaughey to sign on).
2024 is still in pre-production, with no definite release year in sight.
3. Landman
The only thing Landman has in common with Yellowstone is its offbeat Western vibe and Taylor Sheridan. His upcoming standalone series will star Billy Bob Thornton as an oil company crisis manager in the near-lawless world of the West Texas oil industry.
Landman is slated for a possible 2025 release.
4. Empire of the Summer Moon
Sheridan recently acquired the rights to a book entitled; Empire of the Summer Moon. It tells the story of cowboys versus the Native Americans through a different lens, with an examination of the Comanche, the most powerful Native American tribe in American history, and their struggle against white settlers from Texas.
Much of the story details the bravery and advanced fighting skills of the Comanche, so we expect the adaptation to be an exciting and action-packed story with a unique angle.
The next two titles on this list mark Costner’s transition to writing and directing while still appearing on screen.
1. Horizon: An American Saga (June 28, 2024)
The first installment of Kevin Costner’s passion project is set to premiere at the Cannes Film Festival on May 19, starring Costner alongside Jena Malone, Sienna Miller and Sam Worthington. His Yellowstone co-stars Danny Huston and Will Patton will also appear in the film.
The two-part Western epic chronicles the brutal expansion of the American West both before and after the Civil War, which began in 1861.
As Costner returns to the director’s chair two decades later, we can expect to see the rise and fall of the Old West in a gritty clash between cowboys and Native Americans in an emotionally charged story and dramatic cinematic experience.
2. Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 2 (August 16, 2024)
The second installment of Horizon will be released not long after the first, picking up the story where the first film left off.
Costner, who won Best Director for his 1990 directorial debut Dances with Wolves, is more than capable of producing an action-packed Western. The success of Chapter 2 will depend heavily on how the first one is received, but Horizon certainly has the potential to take over the Western genre in 2024.