Alright alright alright, it seems like Matthew McConaughey will officially be saddling up for an upcoming Yellowstone series, with confirmation coming during a panel for the hit TV series over the weekend.
The Matthew McConaughey casting arrives as Paramount has been rumored to be looking to ride the original Yellowstone series off into the sunset, with reports suggesting Kevin Costner may be part of “a relationship that has run its course.” However, talk of Costner only willing to work for one week during the second half of the fifth season have also been debunked, leading to even more turmoil and confusion around the show. Further, just as recently as the announcement of Matthew McConaughey’s casting, Paramount Network president of production and development said, “What I can say is our star, the face of our show and the executive producer, are very confident he’s going to continue with our show.”
Whether Costner continues with the series or not, there is no sign of the Yellowstone franchise slowing down, with a previous studio statement reading, “Thanks to the brilliant mind of Taylor Sheridan, we are always working on franchise expansions of this incredible world he has built.” And this expansion will evidently star one of Hollywood’s biggest draws, with Matthew McConaughey joining the likes of Harrison Ford, Helen Mirren and more, who star in 1923, which sees a previous Dutton generation going through the Great Depression, Prohibition and more. Another major spin-off, 1883, wasn’t exactly light on star power either, with Sam Elliott, Tim McGraw and Faith Hill starring. Even spin-offs are getting their own spin-offs, with 1883 spawning Bass Reeves, with David Oyelowo, Dennis Quaid and Barry Pepper. Also on the docket are 1944 and 6666, named after the ranch featured in the more recent seasons of Yellowstone.
Talk of Matthew McConaughey joining the ever-expanding Yellowstone franchise was first teased earlier this year, with a Paramount Network executive saying, “Matthew McConaughey is a phenomenal talent with whom we’d love to partner.”
Character and plot details have yet to be unveiled, but actress Dawn Oliveri (who played Claire Dutton in Yellowstone) said, “The names will change, hotness factors will shift, Matthew McConaugheys will appear, it’ll just be whatever it needs to be.”
How do you feel about Matthew McConaughey joining the Yellowstone franchise? What do you hope this series will bring? Let us know in the comments section below!