Taylor Sheridan has basically built a ranching empire on Paramount+. It’s honestly getting a bit hard to keep track of every branch on the Dutton family tree. If you’ve spent any time watching John Dutton defend his borders, you know the main show is ending soon—or at least changing form—but the spin offs of Yellowstone are where the real future of the franchise lives. We aren't just talking about one or two shows anymore. It’s a full-blown cinematic universe involving prequels, sequels, and whatever "6666" ends up being.
The timeline is a mess if you don’t look at it closely. You have shows set in the 1800s, the Prohibition era, and the modern day. Some have already finished their run, while others are stuck in "development hell" because of Hollywood strikes or Taylor Sheridan’s famously packed schedule. He writes most of this himself, which is kind of wild when you think about the sheer volume of scripts.
The Prequels That Actually Matter Right Now
Most people started their deep dive into the history of the ranch with 1883. It was a limited series, and it stayed that way. Sam Elliott was incredible as Shea Brennan, and the show didn't pull any punches regarding how brutal the Oregon Trail actually was. It wasn't just about ranching; it was a death march. It gave us the origin of why the Duttons settled in Montana—basically, because they couldn't go any further after Elsa died.
Then came 1923. This one felt bigger. Harrison Ford and Helen Mirren? That’s massive star power for a streaming show. It tackled the Great Depression (which hit Montana early), Prohibition, and the horrific history of American Indian residential schools. Unlike 1883, this one is getting a second season. Production was delayed for a long time, but filming has finally picked up in Montana again. We’re waiting to see how Jacob and Cara Dutton hold onto the land against Donald Whitfield. Honestly, the stakes in 1923 feel more personal than the later years because the family was so much smaller back then.
1944 and the Expansion of the Past
There’s another prequel in the works called 1944. We don't know much yet. It’s expected to follow the next generation of Duttons during World War II. It’s a smart move. That era changed the American West forever as technology shifted and the economy boomed after the war. Paramount hasn’t announced a cast yet, but if the trend continues, expect some heavy hitters from the big screen to join the fold.
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The Modern Day Chaos: 2024 and Beyond
This is where things get messy. As everyone knows, Kevin Costner and the main Yellowstone production had a bit of a falling out. Scheduling conflicts, creative differences—whatever you want to call it, John Dutton is exiting stage left. But the story isn't over.
The most anticipated of the spin offs of Yellowstone is currently titled 2024. This is the direct sequel to the main series. For months, rumors swirled about Matthew McConaughey taking the lead. More recently, reports have shifted toward Kurt Russell and Michelle Pfeiffer being in talks for the lead roles. It’s supposed to pick up right after the events of Season 5, Part 2. It’s basically Yellowstone but with a fresh coat of paint and potentially a new name.
What happened to 6666?
The Four Sixes Ranch. We’ve seen it plenty in the main show. Jimmy went there to become a "real" cowboy. For a long time, 6666 was announced as a standalone spin-off. Then, things went quiet. Taylor Sheridan actually bought the real-life 6666 Ranch in Texas, which is a massive 266,000-acre property. He’s been using it as a filming location, but the specific show focused on the ranch is currently on the back burner. It’s not canceled, but Sheridan has mentioned he wants to make sure it’s perfect before he dives in, especially since he now literally owns the place.
Why These Shows Work (And Why Some Fail)
Sheridan’s formula is pretty specific. He focuses on "Man vs. Nature" and "Man vs. Progress." The spin offs of Yellowstone succeed when they lean into the historical grit. 1883 worked because it felt like a Western version of a horror movie. Every river crossing was a potential disaster.
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Where some fans get frustrated is the pacing. 1923 had a lot of subplots—like Spencer Dutton’s journey through Africa—that took forever to resolve. You’re sitting there wondering when he’s finally going to get on a boat to Montana while the ranch is literally burning down. It’s that tension between cinematic ambition and the "get-to-the-point" attitude of traditional TV fans.
The reality is that these shows aren't just about cows. They’re about the American myth. They’re about the idea that you can own something and keep the world at bay, which is a fantasy a lot of people find appealing right now.
Fact-Checking the Rumor Mill
Don’t believe every TikTok you see about these shows. There were rumors that Cole Hauser (Rip) and Kelly Reilly (Beth) were leaving the franchise entirely due to pay disputes. Thankfully, recent reports suggest they are in final talks to headline the 2024 sequel series. It wouldn’t be a Dutton show without Beth Dutton making someone’s life a living hell, right?
Also, despite what some blogs claim, there is no "1776" spin-off in the works. People just like making up years at this point. The core focus remains on the 20th century and the immediate future of the modern ranch.
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Navigating the Dutton Timeline
If you're trying to watch these in chronological order rather than release order, it looks like this:
- 1883: The journey to Montana.
- 1923: The struggle to survive the Depression and land grabs.
- 1944: (Upcoming) The WWII era.
- Yellowstone: The modern struggle with John Dutton.
- 6666: (In development) Focused on the Texas ranching legacy.
- 2024: (Upcoming) The continuation of the modern story without John Dutton.
It’s a lot. Honestly, you can jump into 1883 without seeing a single episode of the main show and still love it. That’s the strength of what they’ve built. Each piece stands on its own legs.
Actionable Steps for Yellowstone Fans
If you want to stay ahead of the curve and actually catch these shows as they drop, here is what you need to do:
- Check your subscriptions: Most of these shows are on Paramount+, but the original Yellowstone is actually licensed to Peacock. It’s a weird rights issue that confuses everyone. If you want the spin-offs, you need Paramount+.
- Follow the casting news for 2024: Keep an eye on trade publications like The Hollywood Reporter or Variety. If Michelle Pfeiffer and Kurt Russell officially sign on, the production timeline will move fast.
- Watch 1883 first: If you’re a newcomer, don’t start with the main show. Start with 1883. It’s ten episodes of some of the best television produced in the last decade, and it sets the emotional stakes for everything that comes after.
- Monitor the Season 5 Part 2 release: The final episodes of the flagship show are the bridge to the new spin-offs. Everything happening in the scripts right now is being adjusted to lead into the 2024 series.
The Dutton saga isn't ending; it's just fragmenting. Whether that's a good thing or just a way to keep you paying for another streaming service is up for debate. But as long as the writing stays as sharp as it was in those early seasons, people are going to keep watching. The move from a single show to a massive web of spin offs of Yellowstone is the biggest gamble in modern TV, and so far, it’s paying off for Sheridan and Paramount.