The popularity of the original Yellowstone show spawned several spinoffs, with two already released and at least four more in development. 1883 and 1923 focused on past generations of the Dutton family, while the upcoming 1944 will do the same. The future-focused series include 6666, The Madison, and an untitled Beth and Rip-centric spinoff. All three shows will likely have characters or plot lines from the flagship show tied in, but the Beth and Rip spinoff figures to be the closest to a sequel series, especially given their reported plans to replace Kevin Costner’s John Dutton III.

John Dutton from Yellowstone, Jimmy from 6666, and Beth from Yellowstone
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Yellowstone’s Most Exciting New Spinoff Is The One With The Smallest Connection To The Main Show
The flagship Yellowstone series may be over, but there are a slew of spinoffs on the way, and one is more exciting than any of the others coming out.

Yellowstone’s Beth & Rip Spinoff Will Reportedly Have A Kevin Costner Replacement
They’re Supposedly Looking For A Similar Character
Kelly Reilly as Beth Dutton and Cole Hauser as Rip Wheeler in Yellowstone, looking into each others’ eyes.
In addition to Kelly Reilly (Beth) and Cole Hauser (Rip), Luke Grimes (Kayce) was contracted for a sixth season of Yellowstone, but he has not been reported as being involved with any Yellowstone spinoff currently in development.

The plot lines that would have involved John Dutton III in the planned last two seasons of Yellowstone will no doubt need to be adjusted significantly for the new circumstances. However, there are likely a collection of moments, scenes, or John Dutton-esque quotes and one-liners that Sheridan can recycle from those unfinished seasons of Yellowstone in the spinoff. By using a “Kevin Costner type” actor, it would be far easier to use already-fleshed-out elements as opposed to completely scrapping them and coming up with a brand-new direction for the Beth and Rip show.

The Beth & Rip Spinoff Needing A Costner Replacement Shows Where Yellowstone Went Wrong
The Forced Ending Is Underlined By A John Dutton Replacement
Trying to replace Costner really just makes his character’s forced death feel like an even bigger waste.

The fact that Sheridan may be looking to reuse some of that material only speaks to how strong it was. While it’s merely speculative at this point with no casting sheet confirmed, it would make sense that Sheridan would look to continue with some of the elements that made Costner’s John Dutton III such a memorable character. There is definitely a path to getting the essence of John Dutton III into a new character for a new show, but trying to replace Costner really just makes his character’s forced death feel like an even bigger waste.

Is Beth & Rip’s Spinoff Just Going To Be Yellowstone Season 6 Without Kevin Costner?
Beth And Rip Can Essentially Continue Yellowstone’s Main Narrative
Beth and Rip on horseback in Yellowstone
Yellowstone – Key Details

Of all the upcoming spinoffs, Beth and Rip’s feels the most likely to act as a de facto sixth season of Yellowstone, in spirit if not directly in script. It seems like a safe bet that there will also be elements used in The Madison, the Michelle Pfeiffer-led spinoff that follows a new family as they move to Montana following the tragic death of their own patriarch. Between those two shows and 6666, it feels likely that fans will ultimately still get the best of seasons 6 and 7 of Yellowstone, even if they’re served on a slightly different plate.

Yellowstone is a neo-Western drama series created by Taylor Sheridan and John Linson, centered on the Dutton family and their fight to protect the Yellowstone Dutton Ranch from various adversaries, including land developers and nearby reservations. Premiering in 2018 on Paramount Network, the show has been praised for its depiction of power struggles, family loyalty, and rural conflicts. It has expanded into a franchise with spin-offs such as 1883 and 1923, and an upcoming sequel series is in development.