Yellowstone (TV series)


Yellowstone is an American neo-Western drama television series created by Taylor Sheridan and John Linson for Paramount Network. The series premiered on June 20, 2018, and ended on December 15, 2024, after five seasons consisting of 53 episodes. It stars Kevin Costner, Luke Grimes, Kelly Reilly, Wes Bentley, Cole Hauser, Kelsey Asbille, and Gil Birmingham in main roles. The plot follows the conflicts along the shared borders of the Yellowstone Dutton Ranch, the Broken Rock Indian reservation, Yellowstone National Park, and land developers.
In 2013, Sheridan began work on the series, having recently grown tired of acting, and switched to screenwriting. Having lived in the rural parts of states such as Texas and Wyoming, Sheridan set the series in Montana and the first episodes in Livingston. Sheridan initially pitched the series to HBO, but the network declined. In May 2017, Paramount Network announced that it had greenlit its first scripted series, Yellowstone, and that it would be written, directed, and executive-produced by Sheridan.
The series became the first in the Yellowstone franchise, which includes both the prequel series 1883 and 1923 and the upcoming sequel series Marshals and The Madison, while multiple other spin-offs remain in various stages of development.

Premise

The series follows the Dutton family, owners of the largest cattle ranch in Montana, the Yellowstone Dutton Ranch, commonly called "the Yellowstone". The plot revolves around family drama at the ranch and the bordering Broken Rock Indian Reservation, Yellowstone National Park, and land developers.

Cast and characters

  • Kevin Costner as John Dutton III
  • * Josh Lucas as younger John Dutton
  • Luke Grimes as Kayce Dutton
  • * Rhys Alterman as young Kayce Dutton
  • Kelly Reilly as Bethany "Beth" Dutton
  • * Kylie Rogers as young Beth Dutton
  • Wes Bentley as James Michael "Jamie" Dutton
  • * Dalton Baker as young Jamie Dutton
  • Cole Hauser as Rip Wheeler
  • * Kyle Red Silverstein as young Rip Wheeler
  • Kelsey Asbille as Monica Long Dutton
  • Brecken Merrill as Tate Dutton
  • Jefferson White as Jimmy Hurdstrom
  • Danny Huston as Dan Jenkins
  • Gil Birmingham as Chief Thomas Rainwater
  • Forrie J. Smith as Lloyd Pierce
  • * Forrest Smith and Forrest Wilder as young Lloyd Pierce
  • Denim Richards as Colby Mayfield
  • Ian Bohen as Ryan
  • Ryan Bingham as Walker
  • Finn Little as Carter
  • Wendy Moniz as Governor / Senator Lynelle Perry
  • Jennifer Landon as Teeter
  • Kathryn Kelly as Emily
  • Mo Brings Plenty as Mo

    Episodes

Production

Development

In 2013, having grown tired of acting, Taylor Sheridan began work on the series and writing screenplays. Having lived in the rural parts of states such as Texas and Wyoming, he set the series in Montana and went about writing the first scripts in Livingston. Sheridan originally wrote Yellowstone as a film, pitching it as "The Godfather in Montana". He initially pitched the series to HBO, but the network declined.
In May 2017, Paramount Network announced that it had greenlit its first scripted series, Yellowstone. Paramount issued a series order for a first season consisting of ten episodes. The series was set to be written, directed, and executive-produced by Sheridan. Other executive producers were to include John Linson, Art Linson, Harvey Weinstein, and David C. Glasser. Production companies involved with the series were set to consist of Linson Entertainment and The Weinstein Company.
In October 2017, it was announced that following reports of sexual abuse allegations against producer Harvey Weinstein, his name would be removed from the series' credits as would The Weinstein Company. In January 2018, Kevin Kay, president of Paramount Network, clarified during the annual Television Critics Association's winter press tour that Yellowstone will not have The Weinstein Company's credits or logo on them, even though that company was involved in production. He stated that their intent is to replace Weinstein Television with the company's new name in the show's credits when available. That same day, it was announced that the series would premiere on June 20, 2018.
In July 2018, it was announced that Paramount Network had renewed the series for a second season that was expected to premiere in 2019. In March 2019, it was announced that the second season would premiere on June 19, 2019. In June 2019, the series was renewed by Paramount for a third season, which premiered on June 21, 2020. In February 2020, Paramount Network renewed the series for a fourth season, ahead of the premiere of its third season. The fourth season premiered on November 7, 2021. In February 2022, Paramount Network renewed the series for a fifth season, which was split into two installments. The fifth season premiered on November 13, 2022. In May 2023, Paramount announced that Costner would be leaving the series at the end of Part 1 of Season 5. The second part of the fifth and final season premiered on November 10, 2024.

Casting

The show was cast by John Papsidera. In May 2017, it was announced that Kevin Costner had been cast in the series lead role of John Dutton. In June 2017, he initially agreed to one season and eventually decided to stay on for three. it was reported that Luke Grimes, Cole Hauser, Wes Bentley, and Kelly Reilly had joined the main cast. In July 2017, it was announced that Kelsey Asbille had been cast in a main role. In August 2017, it was reported that Dave Annable, Gil Birmingham, and Jefferson White had been added to the main cast while Wendy Moniz, Gretchen Mol, Jill Hennessy, Patrick St. Esprit, Ian Bohen, Denim Richards, and Golden Brooks were joining the cast in a recurring capacity.
In November 2017, it was announced that Michaela Conlin and Josh Lucas had been added to the cast in recurring roles. In December 2017, it was reported that Heather Hemmens was joining the cast in a recurring capacity. In June 2018, it was announced that Barret Swatek had been cast in a recurring role. In September 2018, it was announced that Neal McDonough was joining the cast of season two in a recurring capacity. In July 2021, it was announced that Jacki Weaver, Piper Perabo, Kathryn Kelly and Finn Little were joining the cast in the fourth season. In February 2022, it was announced alongside the fifth season renewal that Jennifer Landon and Kelly were promoted to series regulars for the season.

Costume designer

In August 2017, Oscar-nominated costume designer Ruth E. Carter joined the production team, but soon departed at the end of the first season. Designer Johnetta Boone then joined the production crew for the start of the second season.

Filming

Principal photography for the series began in August 2017 at the Chief Joseph Ranch near Darby, Montana, which stands in as the home of John Dutton. Filming also took place that month near Park City, Utah. The production used all three soundstages at the Utah Film Studios in Park City, which is a total of 45,000 square feet. The building also houses offices, editing, a wardrobe department and construction shops. By November 2017, the series had filmed in more than twenty locations in Utah, including the Salt Flats, Promontory Club, and Spanish Fork. Additionally, filming also took place at various locations in Montana. Production reportedly lasted until December 2017.
In August 2020, the series announced that filming was completely moved to Montana. An undisclosed production location was rented in Missoula, Montana. Film locations included the Community Medical Center, Ryman Street near the County Courthouse, and a diner on Brooks Street in Missoula, as well as places in nearby Hamilton, Montana.
Filming for season 5 started in June 2022 in Missoula. In May 2023, filming Season 5 Part 2 was delayed due to the Writers Guild of America strike, due to pick back up in April 2024.

John Dutton's "Log Mansion"

Filming of the "log mansion" home of John Dutton is at the main house of the Chief Joseph Ranch, which is now a guest ranch just south of Darby.
The house was built between 1914 and 1917 after Cincinnati, Ohio, residents William S. Ford and Howard Clark Hollister purchased 2,500 acres on the Bitterroot River for a vacation home and formed the Ford-Hollister Ranch. Ford was chairman of Owens-Illinois Glass in Toledo, Ohio. Hollister was a judge for the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio. Bates & Gamble of Toledo were the architects. The house is 5,000 square feet including a 2,200 square foot parlor.
The house has a log cabin motif and was dubbed "log mansion" by The New York Times. It has been compared in style to the Old Faithful Inn which opened in 1904 and is 294 driving miles away in Yellowstone National Park. The Times described it as "A diverse combination of arches, gables and dormers, set off by logs placed vertically and horizontally, adds an elegance to log-home design that is seldom seen."
The complex includes three large barns built to house Holstein cattle. It was claimed it was the largest dairy herd west of the Mississippi River. Ford later gave up the dairy cattle and began raising Hereford cattle. After Ford died, his wife and daughter operated it as a guest house. They sold it in 1952. It went through a series of new owners who renamed it for Chief Joseph who is said to have passed through its area during the Nez Perce War. Mel Pervais, a member of the Ojibwa Nation, owned it from 1987 to 2004.

Music

The series' score was composed by Brian Tyler. He worked with musicians from the London Philharmonia Orchestra and viola, cello, and violin soloists. On August 17, 2018, the soundtrack for the first season was released by Sony Music.
The main theme melody is virtually identical to that of the 1970 hit single 'Sympathy' by UK prog rock group Rare Bird. Later on, Breton Vivian who composed additional music in season 1 & 2, has joined with Brian Tyler to score music for season three to five. Lakeshore Records has released the season 2 through the season 5 soundtracks.