MOVIE NEWS – Yellowstone was not only a wonder of nature but also a successful series that came to an end. Paramount decided to cancel the drama starring Kevin Costner, which was too costly for them. Instead, they ordered a new series that will take place in the Yellowstone world.
Yellowstone was one of the biggest hits for Paramount, starring Kevin Costner as the owner of a Montana ranch and his family, who tried to protect their land from various enemies. The show lasted for five seasons, but the sixth season was never filmed, because Paramount decided to end the story.
The reason behind the decision was that Yellowstone was too expensive for the network. Some episodes of the show could cost up to $10 million, which was much more than what they made back from ads and ratings. Paramount also did not have the streaming rights for the show, so they could not take advantage of the digital market.
Instead of Yellowstone, Paramount ordered a sequel, which has not been titled yet, but will likely include the word Yellowstone. The sequel will feature new characters and will be set in a different location. The sequel is expected to premiere in December on Paramount network, and will be available later on Paramount+ streaming service.
Yellowstone fans can say goodbye to Costner and his co-stars, but hopefully they will enjoy the new show as well, which will continue the spirit of the original story.
But why was Yellowstone so successful? Why did so many people love this show? And why did Paramount decide to stop it?
Yellowstone was a neo-western drama that showed the life and conflicts of the American west in a modern setting. The show centered on John Dutton (Kevin Costner), who owned a huge ranch in Montana. Dutton had to deal not only with his own family – his wife (Kelly Reilly), his three children (Luke Grimes, Wes Bentley and Kelsey Asbille) and his grandson (Brecken Merrill) – but also with external threats. These included the leader of an Indian reservation (Gil Birmingham), a real estate developer (Danny Huston), or the state government (Wendy Moniz).
The show depicted the ranch life and work, as well as the moral dilemmas and violent actions that Dutton and his men had to face. The show also featured several side characters who played important roles in the story. These included Dutton’s right hand man (Cole Hauser), who led the ranch workers, Dutton’s estranged son (Wes Bentley), who became a lawyer and a politician, Dutton’s daughter (Kelly Reilly), who was a tough and smart businesswoman, or Dutton’s youngest son (Luke Grimes), who was a former soldier and married an Indian woman.
The show was created by Taylor Sheridan and John Linson, who had previously worked together on the movies Sicario and Hell or High Water. Sheridan not only wrote and directed the show, but also appeared in it as a side character. The show was broadcasted by Paramount Network, which was a cable channel that used to be called Spike TV. Yellowstone was the first original show for the network, which gained great popularity.
Yellowstone debuted in 2018 and immediately became a hit among viewers and critics. The show was praised for the acting performances, the stunning landscapes, the tense storytelling and the character development. The show won several awards and nominations, including Emmy Awards and Golden Globe Awards. The show also had high ratings, and attracted more than 5 million viewers on average per episode.
Yellowstone lasted for five seasons, of which the first four consisted of 10 episodes each and the fifth of 12. The show ended in November 2021 with the second half of
the fifth season. Paramount decided not to film the sixth season because it would have been too costly for them. The show’s budget kept increasing, as did the actors’ salaries. Moreover, Paramount did not have the streaming rights for the show either, so they could not sell it to other platforms or services.
Instead of Yellowstone, Paramount ordered a sequel, which has not been titled yet, but will likely include the word Yellowstone. The sequel will feature new characters and will be set in a different location. The sequel is expected to premiere in December on Paramount network, and will be available later on Paramount+ streaming service. The sequel will reportedly star Matthew McConaughey.
Yellowstone fans can say goodbye to Costner and his co-stars, but hopefully they will enjoy the new show as well, which will continue the spirit of the original story.
Source: Wall Street Journal
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