Yellowstone season 5 is set to wrap up with its final few episodes in the fall of 2024, and some of its chief characters should cross over into the planned sequel series, 2024. The new series will follow the pattern of the Yellowstone prequels 1883 and 1923 and focus on the Dutton family as it existed in that year. That should place the events of 2024 directly after the overarching narrative of Yellowstone finishes. While Kevin Costner will not be involved, A-listers like Matthew McConaughey, Michelle Pfeiffer and Kurt Russell have all been connected to the series at different points.

As welcome as fresh blood will be to the new series, the prospect of many beloved characters from Yellowstone getting extra time for their stories to play out is even more exciting. Kevin Costner’s departure from Yellowstone to pursue his passion project Horizon: An American Saga forced show creator Taylor Sheridan to hit the gas on wrapping up all the lingering story lines in just a few episodes. While Sheridan is one of the few drama writers who may be able to pull that off satisfyingly, having Yellowstone characters return in 2024 can only be good for their character arcs.

Yellowstone’s Next Spinoff Could Repeat A 31-Year-Old Western Battle (& Kevin Costner May Lose Again)
One reported plan for a Yellowstone spinoff could indirectly rekindle a rivalry that dates back more than three decades in American Western cinema.

Although technically not a member of the Dutton family, head rancher Rip Wheeler was christened a son of John Dutton both by John’s own admission and via his marriage to Beth Dutton. Rip is undoubtedly one of Yellowstone’s most popular characters, as his gruff and violent exterior hides a generous and genuinely good man. Given a second chance at life by John Dutton, Rip is the Yellowstone Ranch’s most fervent defender, as he is willing to do whatever it takes to protect the ranch itself and the Dutton family.